ISTANBUL - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said on Friday that the government had not taken any decision on sending soldiers to Iraq yet.
Replying to questions of reporters if Turkish soldiers would go to Iraq and how he evaluated the statement of Kurdish leaders in north of Iraq that clash could occur in case soldiers entered Iraq, Sahin said, ''there is serious work on the matter at the highest levels of the state for a few days. The foreign minister and prime minister met with the president. A meeting was held in the Prime Ministry in which the chief of general staff also participated.''
Sahin added, ''the government is evaluating all positive and negative conditions of the U.S. demand. We haven't made a decision yet. We still exchange views on the issue. I can't say any other thing as what the decision of the government will be and what kind of steps will be taken in line with this decision, are not clear yet.''
Asked how he evaluated that stance of Kurdish leaders to whom Turkey gave red passports and reconciled with, Sahin said, ''I won't reply to this question and leave the question to be answered by the public opion.''
(BRC-Öª) 08.08.2003