ANKARA - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell sent a letter to Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, and thanked for Turkey's contribution to the relief conference held in Spanish capital Madrid between October 23 and 24, 2003 for Iraq.
Diplomatic sources quoted Powell as saying in his letter dated November 3, 2003 that Turkey's commitments at the meeting held in Madrid with the aim of contributing to rebuilding process of Iraq, inspired hope for Iraqi people.
Stressing that the relief would constitute the necessary source for Iraqi people to start creating a free and prosperous nation having peaceful relations with its neighboring countries, Powell said that Turkey's contribution to the commitment of 33 billion U.S. dollars for the next four years had strengthened the consensus, which was put forth with a resolution of the United Nations Security Council revealing that rebuilding of Iraq was worth of support of the whole world.
Noting that Iraqi people would always remember Turkey's contribution in such a critical period, Powell thanked Turkey for being an inseparable part of the relief efforts.
(UK-AY) 06.11.2003