NEW YORK - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in New York to participate in the meetings of United Nations General Assembly, met with the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday evening.
Following the meeting which lasted for a half hour at Waldrof Astoria Hotel, Gul told reporters that the meeting was very good and added that he and Powell reviewed all issues and made a general assessment.
Diplomatic sources said that the United States' expectations on Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq were continuing and stated that the United States would be glad, if Turkey could do it.
The same sources said that Gul told Powell that ''the government continued to assess the issue of dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.''
Gul thanked Powell for his great efforts on granting 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan to Turkey, sources stated.
Regional issues, including Cyprus and Caucasus and PKK terrorism were discussed in the meeting which was very ''constructive and positive.''
Diplomatic sources said that the United States would do what was necessary on PKK terrorist organization and stated that a high level U.S. delegation would come to Turkey next month to hold talks on this issue.
Gul will meet with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Thursday.
Gul is expected to also meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan.
(EÖ-AY) 25.09.2003