ANKARA - Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said on Monday that all units of the state were assessing the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq and stated, ''we know sensitivity of the issue. I hope that it will be an assessment which will protect rights and interests of Turkey.''
Following the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Cicek told reporters that it was decided that the parliament would recess till October 1 after it approved some laws and draft laws which were on its agenda.
''Constitutional amendment law on which the first vote was held, Reassociation Law, the seventh Adjustment Package, amendment draft on Public Procurement Law, draft related with amendments to some tax laws, Social Security Agency (SSK) law, draft foreseeing amendments to buying and selling of foreign currency regulation, draft law which will fill up vacuum stemming from Constitutional Court's cancellation of some articles of Budget Law, draft foreseeing amendments to National Education Basic Law which provides poor students with having education in private schools and some other draft laws will be approved before the parliament recesses,'' he stated and said that after those laws were approved, the parliament would have recess till October 1.
Cicek said that Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul informed the cabinet about his visit to the United States and stated that this visit showed that speculations regarding Turkish-U.S. relations after the first motion were not true.
Stating that although there were some breaking points, 57-year Turkish-U.S. relations' being carried on within the scope of mutual understanding and respect was to the interest of both countries, he said that U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and U.S. State of Defense expressed their request for Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq during Gul's visit to the United States.
Cicek said that cooperation in fight against terrorist organizations in Iraq was also brought onto the agenda during Gul's visit and stated, ''Turkey is about to take necessary step on that issue. We consider Reassociation Law a very important step on that issue. This law will probably be approved in the parliament on Tuesday. Mr. Gul also explained those issues in the United States.''
Noting that Turkey should assess what its contribution could be in Iraq from now on, Cicek said, ''we are working to assess the issue with its all aspects. On the one side Foreign Ministry and on the other side General Staff and all units of the state will examine the issue. We know sensitivity of the issue. We also know sensitivity of public opinion. To this end, I hope that it will be an assessment which will protect rights and interests of Turkey.''
Upon questions on the issue, Cicek said, ''I think that making any assessment on the issue is not to the benefit of Turkey before researches and assessments don't finish. This explanation is enough for today. Turkey is an open and democratic society. We are trying to decide on the issue in front of the society. We will take a decision in a reasonable time.''