ANKARA - Jim Saxton, member of U.S. House of Representatives, Thursday expressed pleasure over the decision of the Parliament to send soldiers to Iraq.
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc received the delegation from U.S. House of Representatives headed by Jim Saxton.
The meeting was closed to the press.
Speaking to A.A correspondent after the meeting, Saxton said they welcomed approval Prime Ministry Motion on dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
Saxton said they needed support of people of region who know Iraq, stating that they considered the decision of the parliament as the first step.
Saxton said coming of Turkish military units to Iraq would be beneficial to restore stability in Iraq and to help Iraq people.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SAHIN RECEIVES U.S. DELEGATION
Jim Saxton said that they were in consensus of opinion with Turkey that humanitarian issues should be given priority in Iraq.
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin received the delegation from U.S. House of Representatives headed by Jim Saxton.
Speaking after the meeting, Saxton said they had a beneficial meeting with Sahin, stating that their visit had two reasons.
Saxton said the first one was to express their appreciation for the permission which the Parliament gave to the government for dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq. He said the second reason was to learn views of friends on situation of Iraq.
Saxton said priority should be given to humanitarian issues in Iraq, stating that stability could be restored in Iraq only when humanitarian issues were settled. He said they would proceed from Turkey to Iraq to visit their soldiers and other officials in Iraq, noting they would also meet with officials of Iraqi Governing Council.
Jim Saxton is the chairman of the House Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee and a member of the Armed Services Committee.
(AY) 09.10.2003