Iraq's Aziz speaks on Turkey, the siege on Iraq
Iraq, Politics, 2/17/1999

Iraqi Deputy Premier Tariq Aziz announced on Tuesday that all the long-range Scud missiles Iraq had imported from the Soviet Union were totally destroyed.

In a press conference he held in Ankara on Tuesday Aziz added that Iraq does not constitute any danger to its neighbors. He added that his current visit to Turkey falls in the natural course of relations between officials in the two countries.

Aziz indicated the common interests between the two neighboring countries, stating, "Therefore I held lengthy and profound talks with the Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and with the Foreign Minister Ismael Cem and viewpoints were identical on certain issues and disputes were on other debated matters."

Aziz described his visit to Turkey as "useful," adding that it was agreed to continue contacts between the two countries. Aziz asserted that he explained to the Turkish officials that permitting the British and the Americans to use Incirlik base does not serve the joint interests of the two neighboring countries.

He expressed hope that Turkey will halt anti-Iraqi activities made through allowing the use of the the air base. Aziz added that during talks with the Turkish side stress was laid on the Iraqi demands on the need for the full lifting of the sanctions imposed on Iraq and to stop launching aggressions on Iraq.

Aziz asserted that the imposition of the air embargo by the US aims at partitioning Iraq rather than protecting the Iraqi people.

He, in this regard, indicated that he entered Turkey from the al-Khabour border point between the two countries and passed through the areas which fall under the influence of chairman of the Kurdish Democratic Party headed by Mesoud Barzani and that there is no problem between the Iraqi government and the Kurds in northern Iraq.

Aziz added that dialogue continues between the government of Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurds to find a political solution with them.

Aziz denied that Iraq supports the Kurdistani Workers Party (PKK): "It is a Turkish internal issue and Iraq has no relevance to it."

Aziz also expressed his astonishment that Turkish President Suleiman Demirel did not meet with him, saying that protocol calls for Demirel to receive visiting foreign officials.

Previous Stories:
  Kuwait refuses Iraqi threats   (2/16/1999)
  Iraqi papers criticize Arab FMs as threats loom   (2/16/1999)
  Russia denies arms sales to Iraq   (2/16/1999)

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