Zebari Expresses Pleasure To See Turkish Soldiers In Iraq

ISTANBUL - Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari expressed pleasure on Sunday to see Turkish soldiers in Iraq on condition that they only come to train Iraqi soldiers.
Zebari, who attended the reception hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on occasion of the NATO Summit on Monday, told reporters that Iraq would be pleased to see Turkish soldiers in its territory only if these soldiers came to train Iraqi soldiers, and not as a peace force or combat force.
``Iraq welcomed NATO`s demand to train Iraqi security forces``, Zebari said.
He stated that it is up to NATO ``to make a decision on whether or not to train Iraqi security forces``.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad al-Alawi had sent a letter to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and demanded that the Alliance should train Iraqi security forces.
(BRC- 28.06.2004