Turkish Prime Minister, Abdullah Gul has left Turkey on a three-country tour of the Middle East. This move comes within the framework of Turkey's attempts to help reach a peaceful solution to the Iraqi crisis.
Gul told reporters the problem with Baghdad should be resolved peacefully since war would not only affect Iraq, but all of the nations in the region. The first stop on Gul's tour is Damascus where he is scheduled to meet Syria's president as well as prime minister. Later, he is expected to hold talks in Egypt and Jordan.
A stop in Saudi Arabia is also under discussion, the BBC reported.
On Friday, the Turkish foreign minister said U.S. President Bush is right to send ground forces to the Gulf region to pressure Iraq into disarming, but Turkey is wary about hosting a large number of U.S. troops.
"The United States is our ally but there might be issues on which the interests of allies do not meet," Foreign Minister, Yasar Yakis told NTV television. "It would not suit us. Then, Turkey would become a country opening a front against its neighbor." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
