Abdullah Gul, the Prime Minister of Turkey, has begun his visit to Arab countries to discuss the situation in Iraq, starting with Syria. Today, he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. In the next two days, he is scheduled to visit Egypt and Jordan as well. The Prime Minister told reporters that he believes the crisis in Iraq can be resolved without war. He stated that war would have a strong impact on the entire region. He urged Iraq to comply with UN Security Council resolutions regarding prohibited weapons. Turkey is the only Muslim country in NATO that has provided its airbase for American forces to monitor no-fly zones in Iraq. Turkey is concerned that if a war breaks out in Iraq, Turkish Kurds might also rise up and pursue the establishment of an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey.
Turkish Prime Minister's Visit to Arab Countries - 2003-01-04
Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is visiting Arab countries, starting with Syria, to discuss the Iraq crisis. He believes the situation can be resolved without war and has urged Iraq to comply with UN resolutions. This visit is significant as Turkey is concerned about potential Kurdish uprisings if conflict occurs in Iraq.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul visited Syria to discuss the Iraq crisis, advocating for a peaceful resolution and urging Iraq to comply with UN resolutions. He is also scheduled to visit Egypt and Jordan.
- Gul believes the Iraq crisis can be resolved without war.
- Turkey is concerned about potential Kurdish uprisings if conflict occurs in Iraq.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Iraq crisis in the early 2000s was marked by tensions over weapons of mass destruction and the potential for war, raising concerns about regional stability.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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