WASHINGTON D.C. - Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul met with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in luncheon on Thursday.
Former and new U.S. Ambassadors to Turkey Robert Pearson and Eric Edelman; Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Faruk Logoglu, Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin and other officials from Foreign Ministry attended the luncheon.
Powell said on Thursday that the U.S. wished Turkey to give its decision as soon as possible about sending Turkish soldiers to international stability force in Iraq.
Powell and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul addressed journalists after their luncheon.
Colin Powell stated that U.S. Central Command commander Gen. John Abizaid conveyed to the Turkish side the demand of the U.S about Turkish soldiers last Friday, adding that the Turkish government didn't have time yet to conclude that.
When asked how much the issue was urgent and until when the U.S. requested Turkey to respond to its demand, Powell said that the U.S. wished Turkey to give a decision as soon as possible.
''The minister's government have not had time yet to fully analyze the request but he assured me that it is under the most active consideration,'' Powell told reporters. ''I am pleased that the minister indicated that they would be working on this in as fast a manner as possible,'' he said adding this would be the decision of the Turkish government.
Noting that the Turkish government worked actively on the issue, Powell said that the military leg of the issue would also be taken up during Gul's contacts in Pentagon the same day.
When asked if Turkey requested U.N. umbrella regarding sending soldiers to Iraq, Foreign Minister Gul didn't mention the name of the U.N. saying that NATO umbrella would be useful for sending soldiers to Iraq.
Powell stated that he presented a document to Foreign Minister Gul in return for the package earlier presented by Turkey about its proposals for contributions to the reconstruction of Iraq.
Thanking Turkey for its contributions and proposals, Powell said that ''there's a lot of business that's going back and forth which will benefit both the Iraqi people and the Turkish economy and Turkish contractors.''
Turkish diplomats told A.A after the meeting that the U.S. responded positively to the proposal package of Turkey. Turkey proposed making practical cooperation in fields such as agriculture, energy, health, education in Iraq.
Regarding the future of the bilateral relations, Gul said that he was very hopeful.
Gul said that ''we are resolved to further strengthen our relations, we discussed all issues in a very positive way. Even between friends, between the families, you have differences, but if we trust each other, we will definitely overcome all these things.''
Powell shared the view of Gul and said that the two countries, NATO allies for more than half a century, could overcome any disagreements. Powell said the meeting with Gul reflected the power of Turkish-American relations.
Powell said that they also discussed the economic assistance which the U.S. foresaw for Turkey, the fifth review of IMF programme and that Foreign Minister Gul assessed positively the economic situation in Turkey.
Regarding Cyprus, Powell asserted that the opportunity that came out in Cyprus with Annan plan should not be missed, adding that the problem should be solved.
FM GUL RECEIVES VETERANS OF KOREAN WAR IN WASHINGTON D.C.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul received on Thursday the ten-member group of Turkish veterans of Korean War who came to Washington D.C. to attend the ceremonies organized upon the 50th anniversary of the war.
Turkish Embassy's military attache Orhan Ugurluoglu and Turkish Ambassador Faruk Logoglu were also present in the meeting.
Gul later talked to citizens who came in front of the Turkish Embassy to see him.
(Öª) 24.07.2003