(DIP) TURKISH PRESIDENT SAYS TURKEY TO BE PLEASED TO HELP IRAQ.

ANKARA, Apr 11, 2009 (TUR) -- The Turkish president said on Friday that Turkey would be pleased to help Iraq.

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul said that Turkey would be pleased to extend every assistance to end Iraq's occupation.

"The United States has not made any demand to use Turkey's territories when withdrawing from Iraq," Gul told American Alhurra TV channel, broadcasting in Arabic, in Iraq.

Gul referred to recent visit of U.S. President Barack Obama to Turkey, and underlined importance of the visit for the relations between the United States and the Islam world.

The president said that the entire Islam world and Arab world should prepare themselves, and express their thesis and position in the best way to be successful in the new era with the United States.

"Problems should be solved with compromise and dialogue," he said.

Gul also said that Turkey was not fully satisfied with Iraq's cooperation against terrorism, but expressed Turkey's belief that two countries would have a firmer cooperation in coming days.

President Gul said that Iraq should mobilize all its facilities to counter the terrorist organization.

On Turkish-Armenian relations, Gul said two countries were carrying out some initiatives to solve problems and normalize relations.

Gul said, "we are experiencing a period in which we will overcome disagreements in the Caucasus and resolve problems."

Alhurra (Arabic for "The Free One") is a commercial-free Arabic language satellite television network for the Middle East devoted primarily to news and information. In addition to reporting on regional and international events, the channel broadcasts discussion programs, current affairs magazines and features on a variety of subjects including health and personal fitness, entertainment, sports, fashion, and science and technology.

Alhurra is operated by non-profit corporation "The Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc." (MBN). MBN is financed by the American people through the U.S Congress. MBN receives this funding from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent and autonomous federal agency. The BBG serves as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of the broadcasters.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)