National Defense Minister: I Am Pleased With Rebuilding Of Relations Between Turkey And The U.S.

IZMIT - National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said on Monday that they were pleased with rebuilding of relations between Turkey and the United States.
Replying questions of reporters, Gonul gave information about visit to the United States.
Recalling that he had met with the U.S. Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit, Gonul said, ''rebuilding of relations between Turkey and the United States is pleasing.''
''We held meetings at technical level in the United States. It was a successful visit. It should be accepted that relations between the two countries encountered a cold period last year. Today's point of bilateral relations after such a coldness is quite good. The private and general meetings with Mr. President Bush in which I participated were quite sincere meetings. I want to express my pleasure over rebuilding of relations between Turkey and the United States.''
Replying a question about repair of U.S. tanks deployed in Iraq by Turkey, Gonul said that a company which was set up jointly by Turkey and the United States undertook maintenance and repair of armored vehicles in Iraq.
(MS-AÖ) 02.02.2004