Atacanli: Iraq And North Of Iraq To Be Discussed During Visit Of Bush

ANKARA - Turkish Presidential Foreign Affairs Chief Adviser Sermet Atacanli said on Friday that Iraq and north of Iraq and Turkey`s views on those issues would be discussed during the visit of U.S. President George W. Bush to Ankara.
Atacanli told a press briefing that presence of PKK or Kongra-Gel in north of Iraq was obviously among the issues to be discussed during the visit.
``This will not be the first time we discuss the issue with U.S. For a long time, Turkey`s concrete expectations have been conveyed to the other side with strong expressions. U.S. side was conveyed that most of the Turkish public felt great sensitivity and concern on the issue. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will have the opportunity to convey those concerns, expectations and demands to U.S. President Bush once again.``
Atacanli said Arab-Israeli conflict would also be discussed at the meeting, recalling that Sezer conveyed the views of Turkey on the issue during the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul.
Replying to a question that U.S. had new demands from Turkey for new bases, Atacanli said, ``this issue comes to the agenda from time to time. If there are such kind of demands, foreign ministry and military authorities will discuss it in cooperation. If necessary, it will be presented to the President to ask his views.``
When a reporter stated that there were efforts to sign customs union with the Greek Cypriot side, and asked about President Sezer`s evaluations, Atacanli said, ``this stems from Greek Cypriot side`s being full member of the EU. It is known by the world public with which legal reasons we oppose to this. Eruption of such problems in Turkish-EU relations was an expected development. This was not a surprise for us. Foreign ministry launches detailed studies to find ways to overcome this problem. I think the foreign ministry will give broader information on the issue.``
(AY-AÖ) 18.06.2004