Ecevit Says His Impressions Regarding The First Day Contacts Are Positive

WASHINGTON D.C., Jan 16 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Tuesday that, ''we have mentioned the issue of Iraq during the meeting with the U.S. State Department Undersecretary for Political Affairs Marc Grossman. However, the issue has not come to the forefront.''
Ecevit said his impressions for the first day were positive.
Ecevit returned to his hotel after meeting Grossman and the IMF Managing Director Horst Koehler.
Ecevit talked to the journalists together with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.
When asked if the issue of Turkey's being a model in Afghanistan was brougt onto the agenda during his meeting with the U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, Ecevit said Turkey model began to be adopted throughout the world following terrorist attacks on September 11. Ecevit said the U.S. also attributed great importance to Turkey model.
When journalists reminded Ecevit his meeting with Grossman and asked if Iraqi issue was brought onto the agenda, Ecevit said, ''we have mentioned Iraqi issue during the meeting. However, the issue has not come to the forefront.''
Pointing out that there were concerns in Turkish public opinion in this respect, Ecevit said, ''there are different ideas in the U.S. on Iraqi issue. My meeting with Mr. Bush is important in this respect.''
Responding a question if Turkey's contribution to the re-structuring of Afghanistan, Ecevit said he got the impression that the U.S. administration attributed great importance to Turkey's contribution on this issue.
When asked why he presented a Koran to the U.S. President George Bush, Ecevit said some circles interpreted the operation on Afghanistan as an operation on Islam, adding that Bush in every opportunity pointed out that he did not accept this.
Ecevit said he brought Koran to Bush as a support to him, and invited Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, the Chairman of Religous Affairs Department to the visit.
Stressing that they attributed great importance to the Industrial Zones Law, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''after adoption of this law, we will provide many facilities for foreign investors. They will not have to wait for a long time to take necessary permissions.''
''We proposed the United States to form a committee in order to further improve economic relations between Turkey and the United States. The United States welcomed our proposal. U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney told us that he would assess the issue,'' he said.
Responding a question about his meetings with directors of the Turkey-the United States Business Council and the U.S. Chambers of Commerce, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''many American businessmen attended the meeting of the U.S. Chambers of Commerce. American businessmen are positive about making investments in Turkey.''
When asked, ''political stability is of great importance. At the same time, coalition government should be maintained without any problem. Was this issue brought onto agenda during the meetings?'' Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''during my meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Horst Koehler, I told him that arguments could break off from time to time in our three-partner coalition government. However, we reach compromise at the end of these arguments. I told him that there is no need to be worried.''
Meanwhile, when asked whether or not any contact about Turkish citizens who were arrested in the United States in the wake of the events of September 11, were held, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said, ''we will discuss the issue. However, the U.S. officials said that they fulfilled the necessities of the law. We will launch the necessary initiatives.''
Cem added that the U.S. press had been showing great interest in Prime Minister Ecevit's visit to the United States.