ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that there may be problems between the allies from time to time, stating that Turkish-U.S. relations were in a good condition at the time being despite the problems that were experienced.
Gul replied the questions after signing the condolence notebook that was opened in the U.N. building for Sergio De Mello, the U.N. Iraq Representative who died in an attack in Iraq.
When journalists reminded the statement of Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok that confidence crisis with the United States could not be overcome yet, Gul said United States was an important ally of Turkey, stating that history of the relations based on 1950s.
Gul said, ''there may be problems between the allies from time to time. All of them can be overcome. There may be several difficulties, but bilateral relations gradually improve at the time being and they are at a good level.''
GUL: IF THEY DECIDE, SENDING SOLDIERS TO IRAQ CAN BE DEBATED IN THE PARLIAMENT IN SEPTEMBER
Gul said that if they decided, sending soldiers to Iraq could be debated in the parliament in September.
Gul replied questions of journalists after signing the condolence notebook that was opened in the U.N. building for Sergio De Mello, the U.N. Iraq Representative who died in an attack in Iraq.
When asked if the parliament would convene in an extraordinary session to discuss Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq, Gul said, ''you should not expect daily program from us. All of those things should be evaluated. All of them are being evaluated. Prime Minister Erdogan has control over all of the issues. If it is decided, the issue can be debated in the parliament in September.''
Noting that's why there was no need for giving a timetable, he said that a serious study was being carried out.
Asked whether or not Iraq sent messages for Turkish soldiers not to come to Iraq, Gul said that necessary assessment would be made from different aspects.
Gul said that ''if we decide to go to Iraq and believe that Turkey will contribute to Iraq's reaching stability and tranquility and its normalization as soon as possible, then we can say that Turkey can go to Iraq. All these will be assessed.''
Asked whether or not measures regarding concerns of Turkmens were taken, he said that talks on the issue continued.
Gul said, ''when we want Iraq to become a normal country, we won't be pleased with emergence of turmoil in northern part of Iraq that seems to be a little more stable. Everybody; Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens in northern Iraq are relatives of us. They should be aware of it. It is their own land. They should not be provoked. Everyone should be careful about the issue. All those issues are being evaluated carefully.''
(EÖ-AÖ) 26.08.2003