ANKARA - NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said on Thursday that a legitimate government should be formed in Iraq for NATO`s undertaking mission in that country.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and De Hoop Scheffer held a joint press conference after their meeting at Foreign Ministry.
Gul wished success to De Hoop Scheffer in his new mission and said that Turkey would continue its support to NATO.
Expressing his belief that De Hoop Scheffer would have important contribution to NATO, Gul said that they would be in close cooperation within the scope of NATO Summit which would be held in Istanbul in June.
Gul said that they had taken up many issues that concerned NATO and that were on the agenda of international public opinion in their meeting. He added that they had also discussed the agenda of NATO Summit.
De Hoop Scheffer said in his part that he was pleased to be in Turkey and added that Turkey was an important ally for NATO.
Noting that his visit coincided with the 52nd anniversary of Turkey`s membership to NATO, De Hoop Scheffer said that NATO`s transformation basis would be established during NATO Summit which would be held in Istanbul.
De Hoop Scheffer said that NATO would transform itself to be prepared against new threats and added that terrorism ranked the first among those threats.
When asked what were the conditions for NATO`s sending soldiers to Iraq, De Hoop Scheffer said that they wanted a legitimate government in Iraq to establish relations. He added that if NATO would undertake command of forces in Iraq, there should be a legitimate government in Iraq.
GUL: TURKEY`S SUPPORT TO POSSIBLE NATO CONTRIBUTION IN IRAQ DEPENDS ON U.N.`S TAKING PART IN THE ACTIVITY AND REQUEST OF IRAQ PEOPLE
Replying to a question about Turkey`s support to the possible contribution of NATO in Iraq, Gul said Turkey could make a positive contribution in case U.N. takes part in this activity and Iraqi people asks for Turkey`s support.
Gul said details would be discussed in case such a call was made, noting that strengthening of U.N. role in Iraq and invitation of a council in which Iraq people were represented broadly would be affective in providing this support.
Gul said NATO already had some activities in Iraq, recalling that they supported Poland which had the command of a region.
When asked about the tensions experienced in transatlantic relations in some specific periods, Gul said NATO summit scheduled to take place in Istanbul this year would be an opportunity to discuss all the problems one by one and to put them on the right track.
Replying to a question about possible future contributions of NATO to the security of Eastern Mediterranean, Gul said everybody wished Eastern Mediterranean to be the center of peace, stability and cooperation. He said NATO would also be pleased over this.
Gul said he gave information about Cyprus to De Hoop Scheffer, stating that he conveyed Turkey`s constructive contributions on the issue.
Stating that he and De Hoop Scheffer discussed problems and international issues, Gul said they reviewed the issues scheduled to take place in NATO summit in Istanbul.
Gul told De Hoop Scheffer that Turkey would continue to expend every necessary support to him, ``we believe that as an experienced person, he will make important contributions to NATO.``,
Gul underlined that Turkey would be in close cooperation with Scheffer in NATO summit in Istanbul.
NATO SECRETARY GENERAL DE HOOP SCHEFFER: NATO`S HAVING A STRUCTURAL ROLE IN IRAQ SOON CANNOT BE POSSIBLE
Upon a question about NATO`s possible contribution to Iraq and conditions to fulfill this, de Hoop Scheffer recalled that 18 members of NATO have already been in Iraq and NATO provided support to Poland. He said that however NATO`s having a structural role in Iraq in transition period soon could not be possible, but they did not undervalue this possibility.
Noting that forming a legitimate government, which would be supported by the United Nations in Iraq, was important for support of NATO, de Hoop Scheffer said that if command of a region was given to him, they would provide support to Spain similar to the support they had provided to Poland.
Upon a question, de Hoop Scheffer said that there was no lack of harmony within NATO regarding Iraq and Afghanistan.
De Hoop Scheffer said that he was sure that Turkey, which had been a sincere and important ally of NATO for 52 years, would continue to undertake a significant role within NATO, including also its role in Afghanistan.
Stressing that NATO was exerting efforts to resist new threats during NATO`s transformation process, de Hoop Scheffer said that they had taken up Afghanistan and Iraq issues and also NATO-Russia relations in their meeting with Gul.
De Hoop Scheffer said that he was planning to visit Turkey one more time before NATO Summit that would be held in Turkey between June 28 and 29.

ERDOGAN HOSTS LUNCHEON IN HONOR OF NATO SECRETARY GENERAL DE HOOP SCHEFFER
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted a luncheon in honor of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on Thursday.
Making a speech before the luncheon, Erdogan said that he was pleased with the courtesy visit de Hoop Scheffer and added that de Hoop Scheffer would have important contributions to NATO during his new term in office.
Noting that he was pleased that de Hoop Scheffer`s visit coincided with the 52nd anniversary of Turkey`s membership to NATO, Erdogan said that Turkey had been one of the most devoted countries to the organization within this period.
Noting that Turkey had fulfilled all missions it had undertaken without deficiency to sustain the defense of organization in the Cold War era, Erdogan said that Turkey would either fulfill its responsibilities within the scope of reconstruction and enlargement process of the organization in the new milieu of international relations emerged after the Cold War.
Erdogan said that the organization would reach its widest limits in NATO Summit which would be held in Istanbul. He added, ``NATO is face to face with a mission of showing that it can be a basic peace and stability element not only in European Atlantic region, but also other regions with the successes that it will gain in the new role it has undertaken in Afghanistan and with the contribution it can make to recovery of the situation in Iraq in coming period.``
``I think that it will be beneficial for NATO and the European Union (EU) to repeat their political will during Istanbul Summit which they have showed recently for strategical partnership and cooperation on fields of joint interest and to put forth a common vision for future on the issue,`` noted Erdogan and said that Turkey was ready to make necessary contribution within that scope.
De Hoop Scheffer said that he was pleased to be in Turkey and added that Turkey was continuing to take its place in NATO as a strong ally.
Noting that Turkey had always known its responsibilities as an important ally, de Hoop Scheffer said that Turkey also fulfilled the responsibilities it had undertaken within the enlargement process of NATO.
De Hoop Scheffer said that fight against terrorism and elimination of mass destruction weapons had an important place in NATO`s transformation process. He added that Turkey`s experience in fight against terrorism would have contribution to this process.
De Hoop Scheffer said that he was ready to make every type of assistance for the NATO Summit that would be held in Istanbul in June.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul also attended the luncheon.
ERDOGAN: OUR COUNTRY WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE NECESSARY CONTRIBUTION TO NATO IN TODAY`S NEW AND DEVELOPING CONDITIONS
Erdogan said that they had the chance to exchange views on many issues that concerned NATO and various problems in international agenda with de Hoop Scheffer.
Erdogan said, ``Turkey, as one of the most devoted countries to the organization for more than 50 years, is an ally which has made every type of contribution for the defense of organization. Our country will continue to make necessary contribution to NATO in today`s new and developing conditions. Istanbul Summit, which will be held in the end of June, will be one of the most important steps for the organization in the coming period. We will exert necessary effort for the success of the summit with full cooperation with de Hoop Scheffer and I believe we will achieve the summit`s being an example summit.``
Erdogan said that they had always good and sincere relations with de Hoop Scheffer within the scope of various missions of de Hoop Scheffer in the Netherlands in the past. He added that they would be in close contact and cooperation with de Hoop Scheffer in every issue in his new term in office.
Erdogan wished success to de Hoop Scheffer on behalf of the government in his new term in office.
When asked whether Turkey had a role in Iraq within NATO, Erdogan said that NATO has not undertaken any mission in Iraq.
Erdogan said, ``we believe NATO`s undertaking mission in Iraq will be appropriate. If Turkey has always fulfilled its tasks with success until now and finally in Afghanistan, it is ready to fulfill them in Iraq as well.``

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL DE HOOP SCHEFFER: IRAQ IS ON THE AGENDA OF NATO
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said on Thursday that Iraq was on the agenda of NATO, but a legitimate government which would take the support of the United Nations should be formed in Iraq for NATO`s undertaking a mission in Iraq.
After his meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, de Hoop Scheffer told reporters that NATO was playing a role in Iraq and supporting many member countries which had soldiers in Iraq and this support would continue, adding that Iraq was on the agenda of NATO.
Noting that political developments in Iraq would be determining on whether NATO would undertake mission in Iraq or not, de Hoop Scheffer said that a legitimate government which would take the support of the United Nations should be formed in Iraq for NATO`s undertaking a mission in Iraq.
De Hoop Scheffer said that they had taken up issues such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Middle East, Mediterranean dialogue, NATO-Russia process and Balkans in their meeting and added that those issues would also be on the agenda of NATO Summit that would be held in Istanbul.
De Hoop Scheffer thanked for the support given to him during his meetings in Ankara and said that he was sure that Turkey was ready and willing to undertake mission in regions where NATO was active.
Expressing his pleasure for coming to Turkey again, De Hoop Scheffer said that his visit coincided with the 52nd anniversary of Turkey`s membership to NATO and added that Turkey had always undertaken its responsibilities and continued its support within this period as an important ally of NATO.
Noting that NATO was searching for an answer for fight against new threats within changing conditions, De Hoop Scheffer said that the organization was fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan within that scope.

(AA-GC-AÖ) 19.02.2004