Gul: Sending Soldiers To Iraq Is Out Of Question

ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that sending soldiers to Iraq in existing circumstances was out of question.
In his response to the question with notice presented by CHP deputy Ramazan Toprak, Foreign Minister Gul said that the government had brought onto agenda of the parliament the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq by taking into consideration the U.N. Security Council Resolution dated May 22, 2003 which called countries to contribute to installation of stability and peace in Iraq and the official demand of the U.S.
Noting that Turkey gave the message to the world public opinion that it was ready to do its best for installation of peace and stability in Iraq with the motion adopted by the parliament on October 7, Gul said that ''our government has neither been insistent nor it displayed an impetuous attitude about sending soldiers before and after the adoption of the motion. The motion was in fact transferred to the parliament to give opportunity to complete the preparations on time and it was adopted. The government continued to evaluate the issue by taking into consideration all factors that affected possible deployment of our soldiers in Iraq after the adoption of the motion.''
''Following the consultations carried out with the U.S., the attitude of the government was announced on November 7. In the existing circumstances, our government's using the authority it got from the parliament for sending soldiers to Iraq is out of question.''
(ÖŞ-AÖ) 21.11.2003