Jones: Any Help That Can Be Given To Important Efforts Ongoing In Iraq To Be Welcomed By The U.S.

ANKARA - NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Commander Gen. James L. Jones said on Wednesday that any help that could be given to the very important efforts ongoing in Iraq would be welcomed by the United States.
Gen. Jones visited National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul.
Speaking at the visit, Gonul said Gen. Jones paid a visit of courtesy.
Gonul said Turkey was a member of NATO since 1952, stating that relations between NATO and Turkey were not only in diplomatic level, but that it also included holding joint operations, and taking decision mutually on strategical issues.
Gonul said Turkey attributed great importance to the relations with NATO, noting that close cooperation could continue.
Gen. Jones said this was not his first visit in NATO mission. He said NATO was in an important transformation process, stating that they were exerting efforts to develop abilities appropriate to the new century.
Gen. Jones said he had very positive talks with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, and noted that Turkey was an important state in respect of transformation of NATO's military capabilities and contributing to the alliance.
Stating that Turkey continued its contributions, Gen. Jones said it was exciting to be a part of the alliance and this transformation. Gen. Jones said he discussed those issues with Turkish General Staff and his interlocutors.
Replying to a question of a journalist who asked about possible contributions of Turkey to Iraq, Gen. Jones said United States would appreciate every kind of aid that would be expended about Iraq.
Gen. Jones said this was a bilateral issue which Turkey and the United States discussed with other countries, and noted that the talks would continue.
When a journalist said, ''Turkey had some questions to the U.S. side. Will you bring answers to them?'' Gen. Jones said he came to Turkey in line with his mission in NATO and as the commander of U.S. forces in Europe. Gen. Jones said replies to those questions should be given by U.S. Central Command (Centcom.)
General Jones said that he would be pleased if there was something which he could do about Iraq within the views of Turkey as being the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) chief or the commander of U.S. forces in Europe.
Upon another question, General Jones said that he was in Turkey mainly to discuss NATO problems.
When asked his views about sending forces to Iraq within the framework of a NATO mission, General Jones said that he closely followed the comments published in the press about this issue.
Noting that he also followed the dialogue process that continued in the region, General Jones said that a similar dialogue developed about ISAF seven months ago and that NATO sent force to Afghanistan at the end of the seven months. Jones said that NATO was a big alliance and that they were closely interested with the ongoing dialogue.
General Jones will go to Istanbul in the afternoon. General Jones will meet with First Army Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and other officials in Istanbul. The guest commander is expected to leave Turkey in the evening.
(AY-Öª) 03.09.2003