This decision is a decision made in order to prevent this war from being harmful to us: Gul

ANKARA, February 9 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Following the controversial Turkish parliament’s decision on Thursday, February 6, which gave the U.S. the thumbs-up to start “renovation, development, construction, expansion and infrastructure work at military bases” for an envisaged invasion of Iraq, Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul argued that it would serve best the interest of the country.

Speaking on state-run TRT TV channel, Gul argued on Saturday, February 8, that Thursday’s parliament decision was “not a war decision,” the Chinese Xinhua news agency reported.

“This decision is a decision made in order to prevent this war from being harmful to us,” Gul said. “It is the day to unite for the interests of our country and nation and a day of solidarity, not a day to make irresponsible declarations.”  

Trying to reassure a wary nation, the Turkish premier said Turkey is keen on the territorial integrity of Iraq and the welfare of the Iraqi people, noting that Turkey was experiencing a critical unenviable juncture.

“Iraq is not far away from us. It is our neighbor. The Iraqi nation is a nation to whose territorial integrity we give full respect and with whom we have historical and cultural ties. We have relatives and brothers there,” Xinhua quoted Gul as saying.

He further told the Turkish people that Turkey was taking pains to find a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis, pointing out that Turkey by no means wanted war, which would only wreak havoc on the entire region.

“There are people who try to show us as a supporter of war because they don’t understand our active peace policy. We are still hopeful about peace. We insistently continue our efforts for peace because we believe in peace and believe in its advantages. We don’t want any bloodshed and tears,” Gul continued. 

Reiterating that it was not a “war decision,” Gul told those people who wanted the government to back war without any hesitations and asked why still waiting that they were not mindful of “the damages of what they are saying to our national interests. These people don’t remember the damages of the former war on our nation.”

Commenting on the negative attitude of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Gul said he met with CHP leader Deniz Baykal for three times to defend his point.

“I have met with everybody in and out of the parliament. I explained everything and what may happen. We have always been transparent about this issue,” Gul said.

Gul’s televised address to the nation came after he held a three-and-half hour meeting with Second Chief of the General Staff Hilmi Ozkok and some key ministers on the Iraq crisis.

The parliament adopted the motion, which has sparked wide-spread opposition throughout the country. 

A total of 308 lawmakers in the 550-seat parliament voted to authorize the modernization of Turkish military bases, seen by many as the first step on the road to a U.S.-led war on Iraq.

The government is planning to ask parliament on February 18 to authorize the deployment of 10,000 U.S. troops and 350 warplanes in the country, and to let an extra 30,000 U.S. soldiers enter Iraq through Turkey.