ANKARA - The U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Eric Edelman said on Wednesday that the Turkish government would take the final decision on Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq.
Edelman visited State Minister Guldal Aksit.
Aksit said that Edelman paid a courtesy visit to her and stated that Edelman and she would exchange views on women, family and social services in the meeting.
Edelman replied to questions before the meeting.
When asked whether or not they thought of making a joint plan for Iraqi women between Turkey and the United States, Edelman said that one of the factors on Iraq issue was to restructure Iraq economically and politically and stated that it was a promising issue. Stating that women in Iraq were relatively strong women in Arab world, he said that the 2nd report of the U.N. Development Program was about women's losing their strength. Edelman said that Turkey was an experienced country in the region and stated that Turkey's contribution was of great importance for Iraqi women to have more roles in economic and political life.
When a reporter said, ''like American mothers, Turkish mothers are curious whether their children will go to Iraq or not. What the United States think about this issue?'' Edelman said that they welcomed the Turkish government's and the parliament's decision on contributing to stability of Iraq and stated that this decision also covered dispatch of soldiers to Iraq. Edelman stated that the final decision was a decision which would be taken by the Turkish government.
Edelman said that the issue had complicated aspects and stated that U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and deputy secretary attracted attention to this complicated issue. He added that they wanted to reduce risks to the minimum.
(EÖ-AY) 22.10.2003