"The more we remain in friendship, cooperation and solidarity with our neighbors, the more we benefit from each other," Turkish President Abdullah Gul said in evaluating the upcoming visit of Masoud Barzani, the head of the autonomous Kurdish government in northern Iraq, to Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakir province.
Replying to the questions of reporters at the Erzincan Governorship Office, Gul addressed the upcoming meeting between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kurdish leader Barzani by saying, "Turkey is a country which has many relatives, friends and kin in neighboring countries and also outside Turkish borders. When we look from this perspective, Turkmens, Kurds in Iraq are all our relatives. That's why enhancing friendship ties with these relatives serves both our and their interest."
When asked about widespread comments on the upcoming visit, Gul said there is freedom in Turkey's media and people can comment freely on prominent issues.
Noting that the solution process of the Kurdish issue was Turkey's own national issue, Gul pointed out importance of being a country which could solve its problems on its own.
The president also said the process was initiated with the will of Turkey, that's why, neither a foreign observer nor a relationship is not in question in this issue.
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