ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin received on Wednesday U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Eric Edelman who paid a courtesy visit.
Sahin told reporters after the meeting that he conveyed Edelman that if Turkey had to fulfill a mission for providing stability in Iraq, it would not avoid such a mission.
Sahin wished success to Edelman in his new mission and said that he was sure that Edelman would further develop the relations between Turkey and the United States.
Noting that relations between the two countries dated back more than 50 years, Sahin said that this friendship developed to the favor of both countries and they both had to undertake missions to provide peace in the world and in the region. Sahin said that they evaluated recent developments in Iraq within the scope of these missions.
When asked whether Edelman suggested him that Turkey should dispatch soldiers to Iraq and whether they, as government, felt any pressure, Sahin said that imposing any pressure on the government was not possible.
Noting that Edelman conveyed his views about two countries' working together, Sahin said that he told Edelman that the decision would be taken by the authorized offices of Turkey. He added, ''providing stability in Iraq will be to the benefit of Turkey, the United States, the region and the world. I gave the message that if Turkey has to fulfill a mission, it will not avoid it.''
Upon a question who would hold the meetings in Ankara, Sahin said that studies would be carried on under the coordination of Foreign Ministry together with Turkish Armed Forces and other state institutions. He added that the issue would be brought onto the agenda of Council of Ministers finally.
Recalling that the issue would not take place in the agenda of the Council of Ministers meeting tomorrow, Sahin said that the agenda of Council of Ministers meeting which would be held on Monday was not clear.
Sahin said that he informed Edelman about legal arrangements on foundations and the foundations of religious communities which were within his authority field and also they talked about sports. He added that Edelman congratulated him due to the success of Sureyya Ayhan who ranked the second in women's 1,500 meters final at the 9th World Athletics Championships.
Edelman in his part said that they took up Turkish-American relations within a broad scope and they also exchanged views about youth and sports which were related with Sahin's mission.
When asked the details of his meeting with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, Edelman said that they took up many issues with Ziyal and it was a part of ongoing negotiations.
(GC-AÖ) 03.09.2003