ANKARA - National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul received on Tuesday John Murtha, the member of the Subcommittee on Defense of U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Appropriations.
Gonul said that the most important reason of Murtha's visit to Turkey was Iraq issue and added that they would also discuss U.S. and Turkey relations.
Noting that Murtha started his tour to learn what was happening in Iraq, Gonul said that Murtha would like to discuss every type of Turkish support in Iraq by meeting with his friends in Turkey.
Murtha said that he appreciated friendship and alliance relations between Turkey and the United States and added that he had been working in Congress for 28 years and they had never had a better ally than Turkey.
Murtha said that Turkey had a view that there was a displeasure in the United States, but this was not valid for Congress and added, ''American Congress attributes importance to the friendship of our ally Turkey.''
Murtha said that they could give an answer today to the question document sent by Turkey to the United States regarding sending soldier to Iraq. He added that NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Commander Gen. James Jones was within the process of giving an answer and the issue was being discussed and the response could be conveyed to Turkish officials today.
Murtha then met with Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok.
(GC-AY) 19.08.2003