ANKARA - Turkey's Special Representative for Iraq Osman Koruturk said on Thursday that Turkey and the United States agreed to continue dialogue on Iraq based on mutual understanding, frankness and constructive cooperation.
Following his meeting with Ron Neumann, the American foreign relations director of Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq, Koruturk told reporters that he expressed Turkey's first impressions of interim government of Iraq during the meeting.
Koruturk noted that Turkish officials continued the legal examination of the interim constitution of Iraq and he drew attention to some observations of Turkey about the issue during the meeting.
Neumann expressed his views about the way of preparation of the interim constitution and its philosophy, Koruturk stated.
Koruturk said, ''we want to continue a dialogue based of mutual understanding, frankness and constructive cooperation. We agreed on it. We agreed to continue this dialogue more openly in the future.''
Neumann said that he in fact came to Turkey to take up ways to improve economic and commercial relations.
They tried to strengthen relations between two countries and establish strong bilateral relations after Iraqi people were given back their sovereignty, Neumann noted.
Neumann said that they agreed to continue and improve relations and talks with Turkey.
Turkey had some concerns over the interim constitution in Iraq, Neumann stated.
Neumann said that the United States was taking those concerns of Turkey seriously since Turkey was a good friend and ally of the United States.
He and Ministry officials discussed how commitments made by two countries to each other could be fulfilled, Neumann pointed out.
Neumann said that Iraq's territorial integrity was one of those commitments.
The United States attached importance to Iraq's territorial integrity, Neumann stated.
Neumann said that he and Ministry officials also discussed how the territorial integrity of Iraq could be preserved and also how parliamentary democracy could be strengthened in Iraq.
They would take up those issues again in the future, Neumann noted.
Stating that Turkey and the United States were two strong allies, Neumann said that two countries confirmed that a stable and democratic Iraq, the territorial integrity of which was preserved, would be for their interest.
Neumann added that two countries would cooperate in making Iraq a better place.
(BRC-AY) 11.03.2004