ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that there was not any difference of opinion in National Security Council (NSC) meeting.
Erdogan held a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure for Abu Dhabi.
When asked whether there was an agreement on sending soldiers to Iraq, Erdogan said that a difference of opinion was out of question and he added that every issue was discussed in a detailed way in NSC meetings and then an agreement was reached and a press statement was released after this agreement.
Erdogan said, ''as you follow in the press statement, we have closely and sensitively followed the developments in our neighbor Iraq until now and we are ready to give the biggest support. We will certainly continue evaluations about it. We will carry on infrastructure activities regarding Iraq and I hope we, as the government, will take necessary steps with the opening of Parliament.''
When asked whether NSC's not taking a recommendatory decision meant that the negotiations with the United States were slowed down, Erdogan said, ''no, the decisions on giving support are all recommendatory decisions. Also, eradication of terror from Iraq is a recommendatory decision. It is possible to see this in press statement.''
When asked whether NSC would hold an extraordinary meeting in a close time, Erdogan said that NSC meeting would be held in November and added that anything that required an extraordinary meeting was out of question at the moment.
When a reporter said that Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) had a statement that Iraqi people did not want deployment of soldiers in Iraq, Erdogan said that a non-governmental organization (NGO) would not take a decision which would be given by the government and added that they respected the views of NGOs, but the final decision would be given by the government. He said that the government prepared a motion and sent it to Parliament and final decision was taken by the Parliament.
When asked whether an agreement would be signed in Dubai regarding U.S. assistance worth of 8.5 billion dollars, Erdogan said that such an agreement would not be signed in Dubai.
Erdogan said that this issue was different and added that recent conditions could be discussed in Dubai and then the steps they would take could be decided.
NSC STATEMENT:''TURKEY'S SUPPORT TO IRAQ HAS BEEN DISCUSSED''
During the National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Friday, the support that Turkey, which pursues the basic goal of protecting effectively national interests and security, can extend to its close neighbour to make Iraq reach prosperity as soon as possible within national unity and integrity and to ensure security and stability in the region, was taken up in all dimensions.
Issuing a press statement, National Security Council (NSC) Secretariat General stated that a comprehensive assessment was made about the developments in Iraq, its possible repercussions and contributions of Turkey during the NSC meeting.
NSC statement said that the Council took up in details contacts held with the Iraqi sides in Iraq and Turkey, activities within the scope of the United Nations, eradication of terrorist organization from Iraq, Turkey's contribution to stability and reconstruction of Iraq after the operation.
Also other foreign political developments which concern Turkey's security closely were taken up in the meeting.
(GC-Öª) 19.09.2003