Gul: If Turkish Soldiers Undertake Mission In Iraq, They Will Work In Separate Sector

ANKARA RECEIVES UNOFFICIAL ANSWER OF THE UNITED STATES TO SET OF QUESTIONS
ANKARA - General Staff Headquarters and Foreign Ministry concurrently received on Tuesday the answer of the United States to the set of questions of Turkey regarding sending soldiers to Iraq.
Diplomatic sources said that Turkey and the United States were in a consultation process about the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq and added that this process had the aim of determining the elements which would help Turkey to take a decision.
Noting that Turkish military officials needed some preliminary information about the issue and the set of questions were conveyed to the United States within this scope, sources said that the answer was unofficial and including preliminary information and evaluations.
Diplomatic sources said that some documents would be exchanged between two countries within this process from now on and officials of two countries could hold meetings, if necessary.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that if Turkish soldiers undertook mission in Iraq, they would work in a separate sector they would be deployed.
Gul told reporters that if Turkey sent soldiers to Iraq, the soldiers would undertake a mission in a separate sector which they would be deployed, but a place had not been determined yet.
Noting that evaluation process regarding the issue was continuing and mutual visits of delegations would carry on in the future as well, Gul said that firstly government decision would be revealed and then the issue would be transferred to the Parliament.
Gul said, ''now we are gathering and evaluating the information for the government to form a decision.''
When recalled the statements of some leaders such as Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Jalal Talabani saying ''Turkish soldiers are not wanted in the region'', Gul said, ''you will see in the future whether they want them or not.''

TURKISH SOLDIERS NOT TO BE DEPLOYED IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF IRAQ
It has become definite that Turkey, which carries out consultations with the United States regarded with sending of soldiers to Iraq, would not be assigned in northern and southern parts of Iraq.
Diplomatic sources said that Turkish soldiers would be deployed in a region outside of the northern and southern part of Iraq.
The same sources said there were British soldiers in southern part of Iraq, and that there were Polish and Spanish soldiers in Kerbala, stating that Turkish soldiers, who would not be assigned in northern part of Iraq, could be sent to another region.
(AY-AÖ) 19.08.2003