ANKARA - Senator Mitch McConnell, senior member of the Appropriations Committee, said on Friday that he believed that negative stance of the Iraqi groups against decision on dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq, would change.
U.S. Senate delegation briefed a group of journalists about their visit.
Expressing gratefulness for the decision of the Parliament, McConnel said they would convey their appreciation during the meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
McConnell said the progress, which was recorded after end of war in Iraq, was not reflected well, stating that although violence continued, this was less when compared with the violence experienced during Saddam regime.
McConnell said as the United States their target was to help Iraqis with the participation of Turkey, noting that they did not want to stay in the region long.
When McConnel was reminded that some groups in Iraq reacted against participation of Turkish soldiers, he said they were informed about the statements of some members of Iraqi Governing Council, stating that he was optimistic on the issue, and that the problem could be solved through talks.
PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN RECEIVES U.S. SENATORS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that statements of Iraqi Governing Council and Kurdish groups that they did not want Turkish soldiers, created uneasiness in Turkish government and people, stating that Turkish soldiers would go to Iraq temporarily.
Erdogan received Senator Mitch McConnell, senior member of the Appropriations Committee and three other senators accompanying him.
McConnell, who spoke to reporters after the meeting, pointed out that they were grateful for the decision taken by Parliament on dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq, noting that this was a decision that might contribute to formation of a free Iraq.
U.S. senators briefed Erdogan about their impressions in Afghanistan and Iraq, which they visited a while ago. The senators said they could cooperate with Turkey in fight against terrorism and fight with PKK/KADEK.
Erdogan said terrorism did not have a specific region, noting that joint stance should be taken against all kind of terrorism.
When U.S. senators asked when and which region Turkish soldiers would be deployed in Iraq, Erdogan said technical talks were underway in foreign ministry and General Staff, and that a decision would be taken after the talks.
Erdogan said statements of Iraqi Governing Council and Kurdish groups that they did not want Turkish soldiers in Iraq created uneasiness in Turkey, and that Turkish soldiers would go to Iraq temporarily, and that the statements were meaningless.
Erdogan also thanked to U.S. senators as they did not pass draft law on so-called Armenian genocide.
AMERICAN OFFICIAL SAXTON MEETS WITH FM UNDERSECRETARY ZIYAL
The U.S. delegation headed by Jim Saxton, who is the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee and a senior member of the Armed Services Committee met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal on Friday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting in the Foreign Ministry, Saxton said that they took up cooperation methods between Turkey and the U.S. regarding the reconstruction of Iraq.
Saxton added that they had a constructive meeting about the cooperation of Turkey and the U.S. in the future in order to improve the situation in Iraq.
Saxton said that the two countries could act together to put into practice the programmes aiming to help the Iraqi people and that they believed the partnership between the two countries would be very good and constructive.
Saxton said that they were pleased with the support of the Turkish government.
(Öª-AY) 10.10.2003