18/05/2004

Coalition will not consider 'quick exit' from Iraq, says Blair

There will be "no quick exit" of coalition troops from Iraq, the Prime Minister said yesterday during his visit to Turkey.

In a press conference with the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Blair said that the world faces a choice between a "wrecked and degraded" Iraq, or a country that is "stable and democratic".

"The task of leadership when things are difficult is precisely not to cut and run, but to face the difficulties and to overcome them," he said.

"We will continue until the job is done, and I can't make it any clearer than that."

Mr Blair said that relations between Britain and Turkey are stronger than they have been for many years. Trade with Turkey is worth billions of dollars every year, and the UK is supporting Turkey's membership of the European Union, he said.

"We are going to be working very closely together on issues to do with counter-terrorism, as the action plan we have just signed indicates," Mr Blair added.

(gmcg)

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