ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that the United States' not giving loan worth of 8.5 billion dollars was out of question and it could be given at any moment.
Erdogan replied to questions of reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure to southern Kahramanmaras province.
When asked about the recent situation of the agreement on U.S. loan worth of 8.5 billion dollars, Erdogan said that the loan was not the demand of Turkey. He recalled that there was an issue of U.S. donation worth of one billion dollars following the end of war in Iraq and he said that the donation was later turned into a loan worth of 8.5 billion dollars when it was said that the donation could also be turned to a loan.
Erdogan said that mutual consensus was necessary for the loan issue. He added that only a protocol was signed on this issue and a specific time was not determined to put it into practice. He said that it was necessary for Turkey to take more careful steps regarding this issue at the moment.
Erdogan said that they could not show transfer of loan in the budget and the budget was completely out of this issue. He added that if the loan was given, budget management would be more comfortable. He noted that the United States' not giving the loan was out of question and it could come at any moment.
Upon another question, Erdogan said that his talks with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul's conversations with U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell showed a reality which was that Turkey would continue sending humanitarian aid to Iraq.
Erdogan said that they wished that Iraq would take part among all world countries as a democratic state of law. He added that Turkey would undertake its responsibility about this issue.
Upon another question, Erdogan said that they were in consensus with the United States about the issue of PKK/KADEK terrorist organization.
(GC-ÖŞ) 08.11.2003