Use Of Parliamentary Authority By Government Still Possible

ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that the United States has told that they could meet the needs of Iraqi people by themselves and he added that as Turkey had earlier said that if Turkey could have a contribution and help, it could send soldiers. As there was not such a situation at the moment, the government decided not to use its authority to dispatch Turkish soldiers to Iraq, he added.
Upon a question of a reporter why the government gave up sending soldiers to Iraq, Gul said, ''a written statement was made. Everything is clear in that statement. They said that they could meet the needs of Iraqi people and restore stability by themselves. We have earlier said that we were not very eager. We have told that if we will have a contribution and help, we will send soldiers. There is not such a situation at the moment. Thus, we have taken this decision.''
When asked whether the authority would be given back to Parliament, Gul said, ''why should we give it back? Earlier such an authority was also taken from Parliament during war. We had the authority until due date. Why should we give it back?''
When asked whether this decision would cause a problem in relations with the United States and whether they had negotiated with the United States, Gul said, ''yes. All of them are written in the statement. This decision was taken in consensus.''
USE OF PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY BY GOVERNMENT STILL POSSIBLE

The Turkish government may use the authority given by the parliament about dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq if the United States makes a request.
Sources told the A.A correspondent on Friday that the government had decided earlier in the day not to send soldiers to Iraq under the current stage and existing conditions.
Recalling that the authority given by the parliament to the government on October 7, 2003 would be valid for a year, the same sources said that the government might send soldiers to Iraq if conditions changed or if the United States made a request in the next 11 months by assessing the new developments.
(GC-UK-AÖ) 07.11.2003