ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that the process regarding sending soldiers to Iraq continued.
Erdogan told reporters that the government would take its step at the end of studies and the parliament would take the final decision on the issue.
Upon a question on the latest situation about the operation against terrorist KADEK organization in rural area of southeastern Batman province, Erdogan said that they felt sad about the incident.
He recalled that two soldiers and seven terrorists died in the clash.
Erdogan said that he thought that the incident was a result of the disturbance the terrorist organization felt especially after the Reassociation Law.
Erdogan recalled that the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq was debated in the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC).
Upon a question about the stage that was reached, he said that necessary statement about the meeting was made and added that studies would continue within the scope of the statement.
When asked whether or not Turkey was about to take a decision, he said that there was a functioning process currently and stated that the government would take its step at the end of the results the studies of the delegations would bring. He added that the parliament would take the final decision.
When reminded the NSC would convene in September again according to its statement, Erdogan said, ''there is a busy program. It will need to convene again due to those programs.''
Asked whether there were measures against terror incidents, Erdogan said, ''both the government, the General Staff and also relevant institutions are on the alert. The government and the military are ready and will always be ready to do what is necessary for tranquility in the country. No one has right to make the nation uneasy. To this end, what is necessary will be done.''
(EÖ-AÖ) 22.08.2003