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Iraqis will not allow division of Iraq- Turkish foreign minister

Iran Materials 27 January 2007 14:17 (UTC +04:00)

(Cihan) - Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, currently in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, evaluated various issues in a televised interview for a private television. Gul answered questions on Iraq, Hrant Dink and Turkey's future regarding the EU membership.

Gul stressed that in case Iraq divides, none of the neighboring countries would recognize any of the new states. He also said that, in the first place, the Iraqis would not allow the division of their country. Oil sources in the country would be, according to Gul, the biggest obstacle as it would not be certain who would get to use the sources. He said that Iraq was not easy to divide as Yugoslavia or Czechoslovakia was, reports Trend.

Iraq was not important only to the Iraqis but to its neighbors and region in general, said Gul and added that this importance made Iraq a global issue.

The minister then evaluated Turkey's EU bid and said that Turkey would continue with the reforms and that the European Union, when it was ready to negotiate, would find a prosperous Turkey. The reforms conducted so far were a part of 'silent revolution, said Gul.

Gul also evaluated the Dink murder and said that it was not an act of Muslim nationalists as it could easily be seen that the assassin did not lead a life that was in accordance with an Islamic lifestyle. Indicating that the assassin and his accomplices were caught within 24 hours Gul said the reactions of the public to the murder were significant and that the government closely followed the developments on the matter.

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