ANKARA - Government Spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said on Monday that evaluations continued about dispatch of soldiers to Iraq, stating that a decision would be taken in the coming days.
Cicek replied questions of reporters after Council of Ministers meeting.
When a journalist said, ''Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said a political decision could be taken on dispatch of soldiers to Iraq till the end of September,'' and asked about the developments, Cicek said, ''we are not at the end of September. Evaluations continue. Some delegations visited Iraq, and some delegations from Iraq visited Turkey. We will probably take a decision in the coming days. In case a decision is issued, it should be sent to Parliament.''
When asked whether or not a decision would be taken before National Security Council (NSC) meeting, or it would be taken after being discussed in NSC, Cicek said NSC meeting would take place on September 19, and that Council of Ministers would convene next Monday.
Replying a question whether or not they discussed increase to salaries of civil servants, Cicek said this was not their agenda item.
Cicek said State Minister Ali Babacan gave information about the general course in economy, and noted that they followed economic program.
Cicek said they could understand from the information given by Babacan that economic revival started in the first half of 2003, and that 20 percent inflation, which was targeted, could be reached.
Cicek said, ''we have no deviation in continuation of discipline in public finance and in target of primary surplus. Finance program of Treasury continues successfully. Rate of domestic debt rollover, which was 96 percent in the first half of this year, decreased 80 percent in the second half.''
(AY) 15.09.2003