STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY ABDULLAH GÜL
PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

AT THE EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE OIC

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY

MARCH 5, 2003

Mr. President,

At the outset, I wish to express our appreciation to Your Majesty for having taken the timely initiative of convening this Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference, bringing together the Muslim nations of the world, has a crucial role to play in helping resolve the crisis concerning its fellow member Iraq. Its role will have significance in its own right, and also in complementing the efforts of the United Nations.

These are crucial days. All of us are focused on two simultaneous developments. On the one hand, we have the ongoing UN weapons inspections in Iraq and their assessment in the Security Council. On the other, we are witnessing an increasing military build-up in the region.

At times like these, we have to be candid and straightforward in expressing what we see and foresee. We see a looming war. And, we foresee destruction and many uncertainties that it may bring about.

Why do we find ourselves discussing Iraq under such gloom? Who is responsible? Excellencies, there is broad agreement today that the Iraqi leadership is primarily responsible for the current state of affairs. As we search for a non-violent outcome to the ongoing crisis, it is regrettable that the projection of force on Iraq has been the overriding factor persuading its leadership to disarm. As expressed by Dr. Blix to the Security Council on 14 February, and I quote “ …If Iraq had provided the necessary cooperation in 1991, the phase of disarmament could have been short and a decade of sanctions could have been avoided.” End of quotation.

Even in the discussions at the UN Security Council where the members are not currently united on how to proceed with the inspection process, there is broad consensus that the successful completion of Iraq’s disarming of its weapons of mass destruction cannot be achieved without a credible projection of force. Iraq therefore, should not misread the present differences of opinion in the Council.

So, the question today is about how quickly and effectively UN Security Council resolution 1441 and all its precedents will be implemented.

The recent weeks have witnessed an increasing level of cooperation with the UN by the Iraqi Government. We hope that this will reach its full extent.

The most recent decision and action taken by the Iraqi Government to begin destroying its Al Samoud missiles with proscribed range is a timely response to the call of the UNMOVIC Chairman. I sincerely hope that this indicates a genuine change of heart in the Iraqi leadership’s thinking. Dr. Blix and the Security Council continue to be critical of Iraq’s level of cooperation on matters of substance. In the words of Dr. Blix, the substantive cooperation required relates above all to the obligation of Iraq to declare all programs of weapons of mass destruction and either to present items and activities for elimination or else to provide evidence supporting the conclusion that nothing proscribed remains. As recently as 1 March, Dr. Blix, in his latest quarterly report to the Security Council, stated that the results in terms of disarmament have been very limited so far.

Mr. President,

The distinguished leaders sitting around this hall today, have seen Turkey in a flurry of diplomatic activity in the course of especially the last two months. My visits to Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the subsequent launching of the regional initiative on Iraq in Istanbul on 23 January with these five nations testify to our deep and active commitment to restoring peace and stability in our area.

The call made by these countries to Iraq through their Istanbul Joint Declaration was a forceful and well-intended attempt to avert the risk of war. Unfortunately however, the Iraqi leadership chose to reject it. Had they reacted positively to the Istanbul Declaration, which essentially called on Iraq to actively and fully cooperate with the UN and expressed the determination of the six to support the territorial integrity and national unity of Iraq, all of us in the region would be at a better point today. Iraq missed this opportunity.

I personally made approaches to the Iraqi President and to his deputies. I sent a letter to President Saddam Hussein through my emissary and I invited Mr. Taha Yaseen Ramadan to Ankara. Also, our Deputy Prime Minister met with Iraq’s First Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Tarýk Aziz. On each of these occasions, we told our counterparts that time is of essence and cooperation with the UN must be full.

I spoke with many world leaders, also during the European Union Summit last month. On this last occasion, I was pleased by the EU’s recognition of the importance of the Istanbul Declaration.

Thus, we have tried our best to leave no stone unturned in search of a peaceful solution. We will continue to do that.

Mr. President,

Turkey is a neighbour of Iraq. We deeply value our historical and cultural ties with the friendly nation of Iraq. Their pain is our pain. Miscalculations impact on us as well as on Iraq. We have indeed been directly and seriously affected by the Gulf War and its aftermath. During the last twelve years, Turkey’s economy has been undermined and its security challenged. These are the direct consequences of the Iraqi stalemate.

As we are again faced with an imminent war at our doorstep, we embark on preparations that we deem appropriate for our national security and well being. We do not have the luxury to overlook any contingency that might emerge in the evolution of this crisis. The choices available to us may not be to our liking. Yet, this is not a quandary of our own choosing. Yet again, Turkey is a democracy. And indeed, a dynamic and vibrant one. Therefore, all of you can rest assured that the decisions which emerge from Turkey carry the legitimacy and sanctioning of the entire Turkish people.

And again, all of you should rest assured that under all circumstances, Turkey will stand with resolve in support of the territorial integrity, sovereignty, national and political unity of Iraq.

I do not want to conclude, Mr. President, without touching on another issue, which we all feel deeply in our hearts. The Arab-Israeli conflict with the question of Palestine at its core, remains to be resolved. This question must be addressed with the full force and engagement of all its parties and be brought to its successful resolution in the nearest future. Turkey will ardently play her part in ending this tragedy.

Thank you.