DUBAI - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on Sunday with former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Following their meeting, Erdogan said that Clinton supported Turkey's dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
Erdogan said that they debated Iraq issue and Middle East in their meeting.
Clinton objectively told about his experiences in the meeting, Erdogan noted.
Asked about Clinton's view on dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq, Erdogan said that they did not discuss this issue and Turkey's stance was certain.
Erdogan said that the Council of Ministers would decide on the issue after the parliament re-opened and they would draw the road map taking into consideration the views of their party and the decisions taken in the last National Security Council (NSC) meeting.
Prime Minister Erdogan quoted Clinton as saying that Turkish Armed Forces could contribute to stabilization force in Iraq since it was successful in missions in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.
Erdogan said that former U.S. President Clinton supported dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq.
Replying to a question, Erdogan said that Turkey did not have a long time to decide on dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
Erdogan added that he would probably meet with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Horst Koehler at 8.00 a.m. on Monday.
ERDOGAN SAYS GOVERNMENT WARM TOWARDS DISPATCH OF SOLDIERS TO IRAQ
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkish government was warm towards dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
Iraq and Middle East were taken up during meeting between Erdogan and former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Erdogan told Clinton that Turkish government was warm towards dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
Prime Minister Erdogan told Clinton that ''the United States should give Turkey a specific region and Turkey would serve health, education and infrastructure there.''
Erdogan said in the meeting that the decision to expel Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was ''unacceptable and inapplicable.''
Arafat did not have any connection with terrorist organizations, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan quoted Clinton as saying that Arafat missed a big opportunity when he was the U.S. president in 2000 and as claiming that Arafat started anarchy and intifada when peace process was started and Arafat lost in the end.
Turkey wanted its soldiers to serve a certain region in Iraq under command of a Turkish officer, Erdogan said.
Stating that Turkish soldiers were successful in missions in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, Erdogan said that clashes re-started in Afghanistan after Turkish soldiers left the country and the United States was in a difficult situation.
Erdogan said, ''let us be beside our Muslim brothers. Give us a specific region. We will serve health, education and infrastructure there. Iraqi people should no more want days during Saddam's era.''
Clinton said that the world leader who would be the most influential on Bush administration was Erdogan.
Erdogan's sharing his views with Bush administration was important for regional peace and stability, Clinton noted.
Clinton stated that Turkey was the biggest actor in settlement of peace and stability in the Middle East thanks to its democratic structure.
Erdogan invited Clinton to Turkey while Clinton said that he would visit Turkey as soon as possible.
(BRC-AY) 21.09.2003