Erdoghan: Iraq Has More Priority for Turkey than EU Talks

PanARMENIAN.Net - Currently Iraq has more priority for Turkey than entry talks with the European Union, stated Turkish prime minister Rejep Tayyep Erdoghan. In his words, the international community should take joint efforts to ensure stability in Iraq. "2007 will be significant for Iraq. The possible split of this country is fraught with serious consequences for regional security. Currently some

650 000 people have died in Iraq. At the same time the coalition forces have lost not more than 5000 men," he stressed.



The head of Turkish government accused the Iraqi authorities of bad governance. "Today's administration of Iraq is not better of the previous. Every day streets of this country become bloody rivers. We are afraid that Saddam's execution and spreading the scenes of his death penalty in the world can result in isolation of Iraq and the Arabic world, as well as in emerging of tendency to blood feud among ethnic communities. It is necessary to prevent blood feud," Erdoghan said.



In his words, in the North of Iraq, populated with Kurds, where soon a referendum will be held on the region's future, rapidly is changing the demographic structure. "Already today we must warn that we are not going to remain as exterior observers of changes in Kirkuk demographic structure. Turkey stands for assuring political unity, territorial integrity of Iraq, providing stability, non-admission of clashes on ethnic grounds, establishing control on oil sources by the central administration, as well as guaranteeing peaceful co-existence of Sunnis and Shiahs and protection of legal rights of Turkmen. Turkey will carry out a balanced policy towards Iraq," Erdoghan underlined, RIA 'Novosti' reports.