Gul: Importance Given To Turkey Was Shown During My Contacts

WASHINGTON D.C. - Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that his contacts with U.S. officials in Washington D.C. were sincere, honest, open and transparent, adding that his visit put forward the importance attributed to Turkish-American alliance.
Holding a news conference in Washington D.C., Gul said that he paid his visit to the U.S. upon the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. During his contacts, the U.S. expressed its wish to see the contribution of Turkey to the Iraqi stability force, said Gul, noting that a response would be given to that request after assessing it by the government and after taking the view of General Staff.
Gul stated that U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney was one of the U.S. statesmen who was interested in Turkey, and that Cheney was launching efforts to prevent the adoption of the recent Armenian bill by the U.S. Congress.
Gul said that Cheney asked questions about economic issues and that he stressed the importance attributed to territorial integrity of Iraq.
''The meetings were held in a very open and honest way. The importance given to Turkey was shown. Everything was discussed in a very open way,'' he said.
Gul pointed out that his meeting with IMF Managing Director Horst Koehler was also very productive, adding that the fifth review was completed and that the letter of intent reached Washington D.C. Gul stated that the resolution of the government to implement economic reforms and economic performance were taken up during his contacts with IMF, adding that IMF Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam also attended that meeting.
Gul stated that they discussed with U.S. National Security Consultant Condoleezza Rice the situation of the terrorist organization PKK which benefited from authority vacuum in north of Iraq and that he gave information to Rice about the law on return to home. Gul stressed that the existence of PKK in north of Iraq and the law on return to home constituted one of the important issues of the talk. Gul stated that he believed that the law on return to home would be adopted on July 29. ''A last chance has been given to these persons, I hope they benefit from it. In the past there was no authority there, but now there is, and we tell that it is their mission to deal with it,'' Gul said.
Gul noted that he evaluated Turkish-American relations with members of Assembly of Turkish American Assembly (ATAA). Noting that he also had meetings with officials of U.S. Trade Chambers Union, Gul said that he explained them that Turkey adopted new attractive laws to draw foreign capital. Gul said that the Union would give information to investors for business opportunities with Turkey and that they also talked about the method of making cooperation in Iraq by Turkish and American companies.
Gul said that his meeting with Ahmed Celebi, a member of the Iraqi interim administration who was currently in the U.S. was productive and useful, adding that ''Celebi expressed his wish for holding of a conference in Turkey and Turkey's contribution to preparation of new Iraqi constitution.''
In return to questions about the U.S. demand for soldiers to Iraq, Gul stated that ''these are sensitive issues. The two ally countries discussed issues in an understanding and respectful way. U.S. Central Command chief Gen. John Abizaid conveyed the demands of the U.S. to Turkey last Friday. We didn't have the opportunity to discuss this issue. I told him that I would explain the issue to the government. We will look for the interests of Turkey. The interests of Turkey will be accounted well. I told them that Turkey looked at the issues from a broader window. We are at an early stage now.''
When asked if a parliamentary decision was necessary for demanding soldiers, Gul said that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer announced that a parliamentary decision was necessary. The government would assess the issue first and give a decision, Gul stated.
Noting that Turkey was one of the most important countries of the region, Gul stated that ''everybody is aware of the importance, contribution of Turkey, and the importance of Turkey-U.S. friendship. I saw that a great importance is given to Turkey.''
Gul stressed that the U.S. underlined the ''strategic partnership'' in every platform, adding that despite certain difficulties in the bilateral relations, he had the view that these were overcome.
Gul stated that no message from U.S. President George W. Bush was conveyed to him, adding that yet the importance Bush attributed to Turkey was stressed by American officials during his contacts.
Upon a question about the credit which the U.S. allocated for Turkey worth of 8.5 billion dollars, Gul stated that ''this is a unilateral aid package. Firstly the fifth review had to be completed and the economic programme of Turkey had to be monitored. Besides there was the issue of Turkey's help in Iraq, and in fact Turkey helped the most in respect of humanitarian aid. The fifth review was completed. There is no problem.''
Gul stated that the Turks who were detained in Guantanamo were also discussed during the meetings and that two of them could be released. Gul added that two Turks who were arrested in Malawi and who were claimed to have connection with Al Queda, would be released via Sudan.
When asked whether the United States and Turkey would pursue a coordinated policy toward countries including Syria and Iran, Gul stated, ''we explained our views on this issue. Iran is an important and dynamic country of the region. Syria is working to integrate into international system. It also wants Lebanon and Golan Heights to be included in peace process talks.''
Upon an interpretation which said that detention of Turkish soldiers in Suleymaniyah was not taken into consideration for recovery of relations, Gul said, ''committees were formed, generals worked on the issue and examined it. Everything was discussed in Ankara. Any proof can not be put forward. Everyone felt sad. We said mutually that mechanisms should be formed for those kinds of incidents not to take place.''
Foreign Minister Gul also had a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, who is currently in Washington. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath also attended the meeting.

FOREIGN MINISTER GUL MEETS WITH INC LEADER CELEBI -CELEBI SUPPORTS TURKEY'S SENDING SOLDIERS TO IRAQ
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met on Friday with Iraqi National Congress (INC) leader and Iraqi administrative council member Ahmed Celebi in Washington.
Following the meeting, Celebi replied to questions of reporters and said that he supported Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq.
Upon a question regarding Turkey's sending soldiers to stability force in Iraq, Celebi said that he supported presence of a brigade of Turkish soldier in Iraq and stated that a brigade was enough. He added that it would be a very important contribution.
Stating that Gul and he also took up this issue in the meeting, Celebi said that the Turkish parliament would take a decision on the issue. Celebi noted that this decision would pass from a democratic process.
Celebi stressed that Turkey's contribution to stability force in Iraq would be different from other countries' and said that Turkey was a Muslim and democratic country and it was also a friend of both Iraq and the United States. He stated that presence of Turkish stability force was beneficial for everyone and added that Turkey could play a constructive role.
Upon a question on presence of Turkish soldier in north of Iraq, Celebi said that Gul and he did not discuss this issue.
Celebi said that he believed that there should not be foreign units which were not part of stability force in Iraq.
Stressing that an Iraqi security force should be formed, Celebi said that security of Iraq should not be ensured by foreign or U.S. soldiers and Iraqi security force should be responsible for security of Iraq. He added that they could both decrease loss of the United States and also ensure security in Iraq by this way.
Upon questions about PKK terrorist organization, Celebi said that they did not want any PKK element in Iraq and stated that this issue should be taken up in a humane way. Celebi said that he thought that the Turkish parliament's passing law on returning to home was the best way of it and stated that thus, people could return back to Turkey.
When asked whether or not Mahmoud Osman who had connection with PKK and who was elected to interim administrative council in Iraq was brought onto the agenda in the meeting, Celebi said that Mahmoud Osman was a Kurdish politician who was elected by democratic method and added that this issue was not an important one. He added that nobody conveyed his/her concerns to him there.
Noting that Foreign Minister Gul and he also discussed re-structuring of Iraq, Celebi said that Turkey could play a very important role in re-structuring process of Iraq.
Celebi said that they expected Turkey's and Turkish companies' contribution to economic life in Iraq and stated that they also wanted Turkish banks to send representatives to Baghdad.
Stating that news stories which claimed that tenders in Iraq were only under the control of the United States were not true, he said that Iraqi administrative council was responsible for all issues excluding security in Iraq.
(EÖ-Öª) 26.07.2003