WASHINGTON D.C. - In the package, which was submitted to the United States by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal who is currently in Washington D.C. on a visit, Turkey proposed cooperation to the United States in Iraq.
Sources told the A.A correspondent on Wednesday that during his meetings with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Alan Larson, Ziyal proposed to cooperate in meeting requirements of Iraq. The package includes electricity, fuel oil, health, education and infrastructure requirements of Iraq.
During his meetings, Ziyal said that Turkish contractors and businessmen could meet these requirements more quickly and cheaply than anyone.
While a part of Turkey's cooperation projects will be assessed in the United States, the remaining part will be taken up in Iraq.
Ankara will strengthen its contacts with Paul Bremer, the top American official in Iraq, to this end.
Stressing that Turkish companies have carried out successfully 95 percent of projects in rebuilding process of Afghanistan, Turkish diplomatic sources said that Turkey's experiences should be taken into consideration in Iraq.
Turkey's package also includes political factors and contribution to stability force in addition to rebuilding of Iraq and economic issues.
During the meeting with Ziyal and Wolfowitz, strategic aspect of relations between Turkey and the United States was confirmed.
Meanwhile, High-ranking Military Group meeting between Turkey and the United States will be held in end-November.
During Ziyal's meetings at the Pentagon, the sides decided to maintain their cooperation in defense industry.
Preparatory works will start for the meeting of Turkey-the United States Economic Partnership Council in fall of 2003.
Trade agreement and encouragement of investments agreement, which were put forward by U.S. President George W. Bush under his new Middle East vision, were taken up during Ziyal's meetings with U.S. officials.
The sides have reached a consensus that Turkey could cooperate to these agreements.
During the meetings, the Turkish side emphasized, ''political and military dimensions of strategic relations between Turkey and the United States have been working very well. If we can further improve economic dimension, bilateral relations will become more sound.''
Sources said that there was not any problem with the donation of 1 billion U.S. dollars allocated to Turkey from U.S. supplementary war budget.
The U.S. side wants to complete technical details of the donation.
During the meetings, the U.S. side reiterated that it supported the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project.
(UK-AÖ) 18.06.2003