STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY ÜMÝT PAMÝR,
AT THE OPEN MEETING OF SECURITY COUNCIL ON IRAQ

TURKISH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

February 18, 2003

Mr. President,

At the outset, it is a sad duty for me to extend our heartfelt condolences for the victims of the gruesome terrorist attack which took place today in the Republic of Korea, and convey the deepest sympathies of the Turkish people to the bereaving people of this friendly nation.

I would also like to congratulate Germany for its assumption of the Presidency of the Security Council at a time when global diplomacy is challenged to bring to fore the best it has to offer, and called on to defend its time-honored values and better traditions.

Turkey is aligning herself today with the statement of the European Union on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait.

Mr. President,

Ever since the question of Iraq entered its present phase, Turkey has been unequivocal in its commitment to the principles which continue to govern its eighty-year old relationship with its southern neighbor.

Likewise, Turkey actively supported the wide-ranging quest for a peaceful solution of the Iraqi Crisis, and we have been at the forefront of the regional initiatives in that vein. More recently, the Istanbul Declaration, carrying the signatures of the regional countries, called on the Iraqi leadership to move irreversibly and sincerely towards assuming its responsibilities in restoring peace and stability in the region.

At about the same time, our Government let the Iraqi authorities at all levels know directly of our dire assessment of the unfolding events. We told them that Security Council Resolution 1441 can in no way be construed other than an unambiguous signal of what it said in writing!

Our efforts were geared to strengthen, not the tone, but the substance of the message that these were indeed, "last warnings;" that it were incumbent upon the Iraqi leadership to do everything in its power to help the United Nations inspectors to absolve them for once and all, of the charge of keeping on producing weapons of mass destruction and continuing to conceal whatever it had of that nature, especially those biological and chemical agents that remained unaccounted for.

Today, we continue to look for the same: A peaceful solution!

To be precise, we look for a solution that will not require military involvement while reassuring the world that there are no lurking dangers whatsoever of the sort Security Council Resolution 1441 deals with.

In this vein, the EU Summit Declaration of yesterday should be seen as the latest significant initiative aiming towards similar ends, as it reiterates the objective of the full and effective disarmament of Iraq in accordance with the relevant Security Council Resolutions, in particular, Resolution 1441.

Mr. President,

Turkey is worried.

We are worried for obvious reasons; we are worried also for unexpected reasons, which are likely to have adverse repercussions on the Trans-Atlantic relationship.

Mr. President,

I happen to speak on behalf of another old country!

Founded in 1071, precisely five years later than the French, according to Mr. Straw, founded Britain in 1066…

And this old country has every reason to be worried …

Because, along with the people of Iraq and other neighboring countries, it is Turkey who has received, and has been receiving the raw impact of instability in its south…

We cannot observe what is taking place in this oldest part of the world with comparative indifference!

When in 1991, for instance, nearly five hundred thousand refugees entered Turkey in distress; many old countries of Europe were loath to accept more than a mere 20 to 90 refugees, men, women and children …

Throughout the 1990s, Thomas Friedman and others, talked and wrote about Amazon tribesmen watching satellite TV and demanding New York prices for their ounce of gold…

Literature, both scholarly and shoddy, about globalization extolling the beneficial effects of that process abounded all over the world…

And, throughout that decade, Mr. President, my country, for the first time in one thousand years, was not able to trade with its south, because of the sanctions imposed upon Iraq!

Instead, we had to fight and lose tens of thousands of our most promising generation to contain, and finally eradicate terrorism of the worst sort. Time has shown the truth …

Today, "talk of war" as such, causes debilitating effect on an already fragile economy.

Whatever the promise of our riches, and the opportunities my country abundantly possess and the Turkish people offer; foreign investors and people shy away from the manifold uncertainties that seem to behoove the region.

Evidently, Mr. President, The Turkish people have every reason and right to intensely desire to see an end to this crisis!

And of course a peaceful one in that!

But even today, and in spite of all I have been recounting, there are those in some quarters who would tell us that Turkey has an agenda with regard to Iraq!

I would rather remind them of the Turkish proverb cautioning against those anglers who prefer murky waters!

I am sure other languages have their equivalent warning against those who do not want you to see what they are in effect seeking to achieve.

Mr. President,

Turkey has no agenda other than reaffirming the territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq and defending the rights of all its people; Arab, Kurdish, Turcoman, Assyrian, Chaldean and others to live in security, at peace with the world and in peace among themselves as citizens of a country collectively benefiting from its riches!

This is precisely why, Mr. President, we are genuinely distressed with the escalation of this crisis. We continue to hope that this Council will remain the focal point.

Iraq must fully comply with its disarmament obligations, first and foremost with Security Council Resolution 1441. The international pressure exerted to that end should be pursued forthwith. Iraqi authorities should be keenly aware that time is of the essence.

More importantly, we should recognize that intense diplomatic efforts backed by a credible force posture, still seems to be, especially in this case, the most plausible means to achieve progress. After all, the "immediate, unconditional, and complete" disarmament of Iraq is still the serious concern it had been since 1991 confronting international peace and security.

In this connection, I wish to commend the work of Dr. Blix and Dr. Al-Baradei and salute their efforts towards realizing the peaceful disarmament of Iraq. We have full confidence in their objectivity and professionalism. We hope that the recent steps taken by the Iraqi Government including allowing U-2 surveillance flights; encouragement of private interviews without minders in or outside of Iraq; the provision of additional documentation on outstanding disarmament issues will prove to be substantive progress serving the aim of achieving a long-desired pro-active cooperation on the part of Iraq.

Mr. President,

Before I conclude, I have to further underline two considerations that are utmost in our minds:

The first of these concerns the plight of the Iraqi people. The people of Turkey have close historical and cultural ties with them along with humane bonds. We are cognizant of their difficult situation and dire humanitarian conditions under the duress of harsh economic sanctions coupled with abuse of resources which has both gone unabated for years now.

The people of Turkey know very well that they will continue to be their neighbors, next year, the year after, and forever!

Secondly, Mr. President, Turkey attaches utmost importance to the unity and coherence of this Council.

As we enter the corridor leading to this Chamber, we see Mr. President, the replica of the Kadesh Agreement written in cuneiform on a great stone.

This is a gift of Turkey to the United Nations, in fact a gift of the Turkish soil, which has seen the rise and dawn of many empires from the Hittites to the Ottoman…

The original of this great stone of Kadesh Agreement is in Turkey. It is signed between the Egyptians and the Hittites in B.C. 1270, that is, some three thousand and three hundred years ago, and it attests to the first ever written agreement between any two states.

Indeed, the Security Council, being the only tool humanity was able to achieve after more than three millennia of diplomacy, it is incumbent upon the members of this Council, to let collective wisdom prevail. Bridging whatever gap you may have, will maintain the unity and the legitimacy of this august body while proving its relevance in these critical times.

Mr. President,

For Iraq, it is the moment of truth!

Iraq should now act with conviction and in a convincing manner for others at this defining hour!

Thank you.