BRUSSELS - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey would transfer 100,000 Euro to NATO's Iraq Fund, and noted that Turkey would also continue to open its facilities for training of Iraqi security units.
Erdogan, currently in Brussels to represent Turkey at NATO summit, gave information about the summit studies and his bilateral meetings.
Erdogan said, ''NATO-EU relations,'' ''Afghanistan'', ''Iraq'', ''Developments in the Middle East,'' ''Mediterranean Dialogue'', and ''Istanbul Initiative'' were the issues that were mainly discussed during the summit.
Erdogan said during NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting, a consensus could be reached on improvement of current strategical relations and noted that, ''it was stressed that democratic values constituted the real dynamism of NATO.''
Erdogan said during his bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, views were exchanged about Turkey's EU process.
Replying to a question, Erdogan said, ''we discussed Cyprus issue with Blair. As we have always stated, we always approached the issue positively, and we are still in a positive approach. We want a rooted solution. What is the most ideal is a solution under the UN. Thus, the sides can reach a fair and permanent result. And the guarantor countries will be better off.''
Erdogan said EU process was discussed during his bilateral meeting with Danish Prime Minister Anders Rasmussen and Rasmussen stated that their close interest would continue in this process. Erdogan said Rasmussen would pay a visit to Turkey with a group of businessmen.
Erdogan said he met U.S. President George Bush, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi during the summit.
Replying to a question, he said Cyprus issue was not on the agenda, and that he did not receive a request about this issue.
Erdogan said Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul carried out the studies regarding signing of Ankara Agreement protocol, and noted, ''we will announce our decision when the studies are completed.''
Replying to a question about Turkish-U.S. relations, Erdogan said, ''as the governments, we have very positive relations. We have met with President Bush with this understanding. We can not be in an effort to prepare a negative basis with a country which we are an ally within NATO. Unfortunately, irrelevant issues are brought onto the agenda. For me, these are wrong. It would be better if we try to increase our friends instead of dealing with such issues. And our meeting today was friendly.''
Speaking about the Middle East, Erdogan said, ''the steps which both parties made toward peace is an opportunity. We have stated that this opportunity should be evaluated. We are ready to do our best on the issue.''