Turkey Has Not Received Any Official Request Yet About Dispatch Of Turkish Troops To Afghanistan

ANKARA - Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Spokesman Namik Tan has said, ''Turkey has not received any official request yet about dispatch of the reinforcement troops to Afghanistan.''
Speaking at the weekly press conference at the MFA, Tan said on Wednesday, ''we have not received an official request yet. It is a fact that deployment of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) outside Kabul requires dispatch of reinforcement troops. Also, NATO asked the allied countries to send reinforcement troops to provide security backup for September's elections. NATO asked the allied countries which want to make contribution, to give their response as soon as possible.''
Recalling that Turkey had undertaken leadership of ISAF for eight months, Tan said, ''Turkey has made several contributions recently in response of meeting NATO's requirements. Turkey has sent a nine-member delegation to Kabul for construction of Kabul Airport. Three helicopters, which were requested earlier, will leave for Afghanistan in the possible shortest period.''
Recalling that a decision was made previously about establishment of provincial improvement teams outside Kabul, Tan said that their preparatory efforts had been continuing.
Tan said that those teams would contribute to security and to assist improvement activities.
(UK-AY) 28.04.2004