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REVUE DE PRESSE-P RESS REVIEW-BERHEVOKAÇAPÊ-RwISTA STAMPA-DENTRO DE LA PRENSA-BASIN OZETi
Summit emphasizes Iraq's unity
Foreign Minister stressed that the Ineeting was not directed against an~
countly or nation but was Inotivated by concern over the develop111ents 1I1Iraq
Turkish Daily News
ISTANBUL- The Foreign Ministers of
Turkey, Iran and Syria emphasized that the
preservation of the unity and territorial integrity
of Iraq was essential for regional
peace and stability.
In a joint communique issued after the
fifth round of tripartite consultations Saturday
at Swissotel The Bosphorus, the foreign
ministers of the three countries -- Hikmet
Cetin from Turkev, Ali Akbar Velayati from
(ran and Farouk al-Shara from Syna -- said
they attached great importance to this issue.
They reaftirn1ed the concern expressed by
their respective e:overnments, "reflected .in
the resolutions adopted by the U.N. Secunty
Council follo\\'ing the invasion of Kuwait by
Iraq."
They indicated that their count~ies ~ere
detennined to oppose all efforts whIch nught
lead to the disintegration of Iraq. At the
same time, the ministers emphaSIZed, that
Iraq had to fulfillthe tenns under which it
could rejoin the interna~ional communi~y
and they "urged Iraq to Increase eff~rts In
that direction and to cooperate fully wIth the
United Nations."
In addition the ministers stressed that
Iraq should remove all restrictions on Iraqi
citizens livine: in northern Iraq. But they also
seemed to feel that the "ways and means to
nonnalize the situation in northern Iraq must
be sought and found within Iraq, through dialogue
and by creating a climate of security
for Its citizens."
The second issue on the agenda was terrorism.
The ministers condemned terrorism
directed against their countries and indicated
that they would takewhatever measures
were necessary to put an end to terrorism
and to ensure peace, stability and tranquility
in the region.
Regional developments reviewed
çetln, at the press conference following
the ministerial meetine:, said that the purpose
of the meeting had been to review the developments
in the ree:ion and
vIews on the negati\'e aspects
to exchanpe
of those oevelopments.
He s~ressed that the mee~in~
was not aimed against any country nor dId It
have a goal of interf~ring :vith the internaI
affairs of other countnes. Since Turkey, Iran
and Syria were the three countries which
were most concerned with the developments
in Iraq, they had considered it appropriate to
discuss ways of preventing neoative influences
from disturbing peace anâ stability in
the region. "We are of the opinion that the
counlnes in the area should review the problems
in the region before anything else. ' Velayati
said that concrete results had been
reached at the meeting. He also said that it
had not been aimed against any country or
any nation but was an expression of concern
over the situation in Iraq, because it affected
the security of the three countries. He emphasized
that they would not permit any
country to interfere in the internal affairs of
this very sensitive re!!ion.
Al- Shara also eXpressed concern over
"the suffering that the Iraqi people have
faced for the last three years, since the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait. Of course we care about
the imr.lementation of all the U.N. Security
CouncIl resolutions and we have a consensus
on this. We touched on many other subjects
relevant to Irag, especially the acts of
terrorism that are dIrected against our respective
countries. We condemn such acts
and we heJie\'e that our cooperation is important
for the preservation of each country's
sovereignty. "
In response to a reporter's question on the
issue of terrorism, the Syrian Foreign Minister
replied, "We don't support any form of
terronsm. We have made this very clear to
our friends in Turkey, who are fully aware
that Syria does not support the PKK (Kurdistan
Workers' Party). Furthermore, the unity
and territorial integrity of Turkey, our
friend, is important to Syria."
, Al-Shara said it was often alleged that
Syria was a supporter of many terrorist
groups, including the PKK. He denied these
allegations, saying: "Syria differentiates between
terrorism which is a crime and should
be punished and eradicated ... and the legitimate
struggle of a people under occupation
... which cannot be considered terrorism.
National resistance in southern Lebanon
against the Israeli military occupation cannot
be regarded as terrorism ... Unfortunately
the press does not always differentiate between
the two issues. They confuse public
opinion, and the time has come to stop publishino
these confusing press reports."
FolYowing further inquiries regarding Syria's
stand on terrorism, al-Shara said they
believed they were entirely in line with the
U.N. Charter. But he insisted that this was
totally different from what was happening in
Turkey, "Turkey is a sovereign country and
we are committed to the unity and temtorial
integrity of Turkey. We do not support any
acts which violate the sovereignty of Turkey
and it is up to the Turkish people to determine
the future of their own country. Outside
forces have no right to interfere with the
future of the Turkish people. They decide
freely for themselves. But the Palestinian issue
is different ... "
When al-Shara was asked why nothing
had been accomplished concerning the water
issue, in spite of the fact that the topic came
up at every meeting between Syrian and
Turkish representatives, he replied: "We are
concerned because it is a vital issue. What
concerns us is not the question of how much
water passes thr.ough tne Tigris and ~uphrates
rivers to Syna and Iraq, but the faIlure to
reach a finn a!!reement on the sharing of water
aman!! theïhree countries -- Turkey, Syria
and Iraq. It is true that the Turkish government
is committed to a protocol signed in
1987, BlJIla~t ~'e'lr when Mr. Demirel \ j,ifed
Syria, we agreed that the water issue
would be settled before the end of 1993. Our
two presidents entrusted the forei~n ministers
of Syria and Turkey to bring tne agreement
to Its conclusion before the end of last
year. Unfortunately this did not happen.
"Now the question of sharing the waters
of international rivers is of great importance
to other countries facing the same problem.
What Syria is askino is perfectly legitimate.
I think that if we so~'e this problem, regional
stability and cooperation will be enhanced,
but if we fail to reach an agreement
it will rem~in a ,ntlree pf ffn,jnn \\'f Me
not asking for any special advanta(!es. We
are asking for international laws to' be applied
to the situation involving the three
countries. "I did discuss this on Friday with
Çiller and also with Çetin. The discussions
were positive and we hope that more of the
same kind will follow so that we may reach
an ae:reement on the sharin!! of water within
the rramework of internationallaw and intemationalloans.
"
The sixth tripartite ministerial meetin!!
has been scheduled for Damascus in July
this vear, with the Conunillee of Senior Experts
meeting one month earlier.
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