TURKEY: FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH GUL MEETS IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KAMAL KHARRAZI FOR TALKS ON THE IRAQ CRISIS.

Record ID: 645906

  • Title: TURKEY: FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH GUL MEETS IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KAMAL KHARRAZI FOR TALKS ON THE IRAQ CRISIS.
  • Date: 6th April 2003
  • Summary: (U4) ANKARA, TURKEY (APRIL 6, 2003) (REUTERS) TRACK: CAR CARRYING IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KAMAL KHARRAZI ARRIVING AT FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING. MV: CAMERAMEN: IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KAMAL KHARRAZI ENTERING FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING; MV TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH GUL SHAKING HANDS WITH KHARRAZI; MV MEDIA; MV GUL AND KHARRAZI ARRIVING AT PRESS CONFERENCE; MEDIA. (3 SHOTS) SCU: SOUNDBITE (Farsi) KHARRAZI SAYING "These warnings from America are nothing new. U.S. policy in the region is, 'You are either with us or against us.' We have heard these warnings from America for years They know that the Iranian government depends on Iranian people and a liberal government" WS: MEDIA. SCU: SOUNDBITE (Farsi) KHARRAZI SAYING "We hope America will not pursue the same policies in the region that Israel implements.The people will most definitely take action against this. We hope they'll move logically and with precaution" SCU: TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH GUL LISTENING. SCU: SOUNDBITE (Farsi) KHARRAZI SAYING "We say that Iraq must hand the situation over to the United Nations and the new government of the Iraqi people must be organised under the authority of United Nations. And also we believe that future stability in Iraq cannot be achieved without support from its neighbours." SCU: PEOPLE LISTENING. MV: KHARRAZI AND GUL LEAVE PRESS CONFERENCE. (U4) ANKARA, TURKEY (APRIL 6, 2003) (POOL) VARIOUS: KAMAL KHARRAZI MEETING WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH GUL. (6 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 21st April 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ANKARA, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Conflict,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3IE1AC4E1WFCMI5YH56QXZIB3
  • Story Text: Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi has dismissed U.S. warnings on interfering in the war in Iraq as "nothing new" and said Tehran was opposed to any foreign intervention in the Arab state.
    Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi visited Turkey on Sunday (April 6, 2003), and following meetings with Turkish foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, Kharrazi said that the United Nations should play a leading role in the future of Iraq.
    U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last month accused Tehran of backing armed groups inside Iraq, raising concerns the United States may consider targeting Iran after the Iraqi war.
    U.S. officials have denied Washington plans to strike Iran, which is included on Washington's "axis of evil" with Iraq.
    "These warnings from America are nothing new. U.S. policy in the region is, 'You are either with us or against us.' We have heard these warnings from America for years," Kharrazi told reporters after talks with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.
    Iran is opposed to any new Kurdish state emerging in post-war Iraq, Kharrazi said, but does not want to see neighbouring countries entering to block Iraqi Kurds.
    NATO partner and close U.S. ally Turkey has backed off from threats to invade northern Iraq to block Kurds, allied with U.S. forces, from establishing a state out of the chaos of war. Iraqi Kurds deny their aim is independence from Iraq.
    Turkey fears such a state would spark separatism among its own estimated 12 million Kurds. Iran and Syria are also home to Kurdish minorities who live in areas bordering northern Iraq.
    Relations have been strained between Ankara and Washington since Muslim Turkey refused to allow U.S. troops to launch attacks on Iraq from Turkish territory.
    U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell was in Ankara last week in a bid to repair the damage between the traditional allies.
    Turkey is seeking closer ties with Iran and Syria, both staunchly opposed to the war in Iraq. Abdullah Gul is expected to travel to Damascus on April 13 for talks. Iran says it would also support a three-way meeting with Turkey and Syria.> GULF WAR 3
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