ANKARA - Ankara waits for an answer from Washington on technical talks expected to be started between Turkey and the United States after the authorization that was given to the government on dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
Diplomatic sources said on Wednesday that it was the United States' turn on the issue and stated that suicide attack on Turkish Embassy in Baghdad would not affect negotiation process between Turkey and the United States.
Sources said ''Ankara is ready'' for continuation of the process, stressing that reply of the United States might be late as motion process in Turkey on dispatch of soldiers to Iraq was completed rapidly this time and because of the assignment changes in the United States for reconstruction of Iraq.
Sources said that thus, extension of the process could be to the advantage of Turkey.
Stating that a timetable for talks was not set yet, sources said that political and technical memorandum of negotiation would be signed between Turkey and the United States following the talks.
Recalling that compromise between the two countries continued on elimination terrorist organization PKK/KADEK from north of Iraq, sources said that this issue was not a condition for starting of the process.
Sources said that the United States should continue to fight against this terrorist organization irrespective of Turkish soldiers' going to the region.
Ankara earlier had told Washington that it was important that groups who were against dispatch of Turkish soldiers to the region should be convinced, and that Turkish soldiers would go to the region to make contribution to reconstruction of Iraq, not only for a military mission.
(EÖ-AY) 15.10.2003