Turkey Seeks Compensation From Us

It's about time the United States proved they also stand by Turkey , these losses have to be compensated, Ciller told BBC World television.We only want a certain portion of our losses to be compensated economically.

Ciller said Turkey was working with US officials on the economic losses ... and how that can be compensated. Turning to the security zone Turkey plans to create in northern Iraq, Ciller said it was a must for Turkey following the recent upheaval in northern Iraq.

Turkey would definitely observe the territorial integrity of Iraq, she said. It (the buffer zone) is not taking advantage of anything and if it is seen as such it will be the worst mistake that anyone can make.

 

Ciller said. It (the zone) means a fence strip right next to our borders has to be looked at as a security area which will deter penetration. It is going to be temporary kind of activity.

Earlier, Turkey spelled out limited military goals inside northern Iraq.

Asked about plans for cross-border operations, Ahmet Erturk, deputy governor of the southeastern provinces, told reporters: There is nothing happening. The journalists have gone there for nothing.

At midnight on Thursday, Iraq summoned a senior Turkish diplomat in Baghdad to complain about Ankara's military build-up at the border with Kurdish-held northern Iraq.

A Turkish foreign ministry official told Reuters on Friday: A permanent Turkish military existence across the border is out of the question.