ANKARA - State Minister Ali Babacan said on Thursday that U.S. side stated that dispatch of soldiers and the loan did not have any connection.
Babacan spoke to journalists at Ankara's Esenboga Airport on his return from Dubai where he attended IMF-World Bank annual meetings.
Replying a question about linking U.S. loan to approval of Pentagon, Babacan said, ''cooperation on Iraq is in a different dimension. We are already in cooperation with United States on restoration of security in Iraq such as humanitarian aid and treatment of injured people in Turkey.''
Babacan said, ''we asked United States to clarify whether or not dispatch of soldiers to Iraq would be included within the scope of description of this cooperation. U.S. side stated that the loan and dispatch of soldiers did not have any connection.''
Stating that when Turkey decided to take one of tranches, it would send a letter to U.S. Department of Treasury, he said that the Department would evaluate whether those conditions were fulfilled or not within eight days.
Babacan said that it was very easy for the U.S. Department of Treasury to learn whether economic conditions were fulfilled or not. He stated that the U.S. Treasury Department would receive information on cooperation in Iraq from reports prepared by the U.S. Departments of State and Defense. He added that it was not a supervision.
Babacan said that they put the same expression in the law of the Congress into the agreement to prevent any problem.
Asked when the first tranche of the loan would come to Turkey, he said, ''our friends in the Treasury will work on this issue. Turkey will take the tranche according to the payment timetable of domestic and external debts. We earlier also said that the U.S. loan is not a sine qua non.''
Babacan said that they wanted to use this loan as its interest rate was low and added that it was a symbolic indicator of Turkish-U.S. relations.
50 MEETINGS IN DUBAI IN FIVE DAYS
Babacan said that they attended 50 meetings within five days during IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Dubai.
Babacan said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended opening meeting as ''honorary guest'', and that his speech was appreciated, and that Turkey became a center of attraction.
Babacan said stability in Turkey and economic developments were influential in this interest.
Recalling that interest in Turkish debenture bonds increased following their meetings in the United States, Babacan said this interest continued in Dubai, and that interest of direct foreign capital also gradually increased.
Babacan said he was pleased to learn from European Investment Bank Deputy Chairman that investors in Europe asked for information from the Bank for Turkey for direct investment.
Babacan said he also met European Union commission member, stating that they reached consensus of opinion to work together in economic adjustment process with the EU.
Babacan said he met representatives of 23 finance institutions in Dubai and briefed them on recent developments in Turkey.
(AY-AÖ) 25.09.2003