Cicek: Ball Is In U.S. Court For Dispatch Of Troops To Iraq

NAPLES - Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said on Friday that the ball was in the U.S. court for dispatch of Turkish troops in Iraq.
Cicek, who is currently in Naples for ''EU conference on policies for the protection of children'', told the A.A correspondent that there was no need for the United States to pass the ball to other places and pass it to each other and stated that they would not take a decision on the issue by taking into consideration statements of some local elements.
Stating that settlement of peace and stability in Iraq soon was of great importance for Turkey, he said that Turkey also acted with this thought in its decisions on the issue.
Cicek said that the thought of sending soldiers to Iraq emerged with the aim of settlement of peace in Iraq because it was to the interest of Turkey, not for an imperialist target. He stated that Turkey was still seeking ways of contribution to settlement of this peace. Noting that the United States's policies on the issue have not been seen very consistent for some time, Cicek said that he thought that not everything worked out exactly the way the United States expected. He added that he thought this was their problem.
Cicek said that if the United States could provide peace and tranquility in Iraq without Turkey, they were most welcome and stated that it would be to the benefit for Turkey.
Cicek said that Turkey did not have any ambition on sending soldiers to Iraq and recalled that the proposal on the issue came from the United States.
Stating that the United States demanded soldiers from Turkey, he said that this demand coincided with the interest of Turkey in circumstances of that day. Cicek said that the parliament took the necessary decision on the issue and stated that it gave authority to the government. Cicek said that the government still had the authority and added that the ball was in the court of the United States now.
(EÖ-AÖ) 31.10.2003