Gul: 8.5 Billion U.S. Dollars Loan Ready To Be Used

SARAJEVO - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday that 8.5 billion dollars U.S. loan was ready to be used, stating that they would use the credit whenever they wanted.
Gul arrived in Sarajevo together with State Minister Ali Babacan and Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan to participate in the funeral of former Bosnia-Herzegovina President Aliya Izzetbegovic.
When a journalist asked whether there was any political hesitation in getting U.S. loan, Gul said any political hesitation was out of question, stressing that, ''what hesitation? we don't have any secret intention. A country which wants to preserve Iraq's territorial integrity can not have an intention like splitting up of Iraq.''
Replying to a question, Gul said, ''Turkey has soldiers in north of Iraq. Everybody knows this. The world knows this. So, a condition like 'you can not send soldiers there' can not be put forth. We will use the loan whenever we want. Turkish economy is already strong.''
(AY) 22.10.2003