France Shares Turkey's Opinion About Iraq Issue

ANKARA, Jan 25 (A.A) - Political and economic dimension of bilateral relations between Turkey and France and possible operation against Iraq came onto the agenda during French Defense Minister Alain Richard's contacts in Ankara.
Sources said on Friday that possible operation against Iraq had been brought onto the agenda by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit during Richard's contacts at the Prime Ministry, and Ecevit had informed Richard on his visit to the United States and his meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush.
Noting that the United States had not yet taken a decision on an operation against Iraq, Ecevit had asked about Richard's opinions on the matter. Richard had said that France's opinions were similar to Turkey's opinions and that also France attributed importance to Iraq's territorial integrity. Richard had stressed that a possible operation would destroy the stability in the region.
The matter of which country would command the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) after Britain had been discussed at the meeting at the Prime Ministry during which also the latest developments in the Middle East had been taken up.
Noting that the decision about undertaking of ISAF's command would be taken by Turkish officials, Richard had said that France had the confidence that Turkey could undertake this mission.
Recalling that the decision about the so-called Armenian genocide had been taken by the French parliament, Richard had said that the French government had not adopted the decision. Noting that relations between the two countries progressed positively except disagreements about this issue, Richard had said that preference about the defense industry auctions was up to Turkey.
Sources expressed the view that a step had been taken on putting the Turkish-French relations, which had been tensed with approval of so-called Armenian genocide bill, back on track with the visit of Richard to Ankara.
During Richard's meetings with Chief of General Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu and National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, so-called Armenian genocide law and problems which appeared in defense industry auctions between the two countries due this law had been discussed.
Sources said that Cakmakoglu had told Richard that developments after acceptance of so-called Armenian genocide bill would always affect bilateral relations. Cakmakoglu had given the message that negativities in the defense industry acutions could continue.
General Kivrikoglu had told Richard that the two countries had relations which had roots deep in history and that problems might occur between Turkey and France from time to time.

RICHARD HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE
Defense Minister Alain Richard of France said on Friday that Turkish officials should make the preference themselves to take over the command of the International Securityu Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan from Britain.
Richard held a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport after wrapping up his contacts in Ankara.
Noting that he did not want to affect Turkey's decision by making a statement about the command of ISAF, Richard recalled that Turkey, earlier, stated that it was ready to take over the command of the ISAF.
Turkish officials should make the preference themselves to take over the command of the ISAF in Afghanistan from Britain, he said.
He said that they relied on Turkey's military power and capacity to undertake this mission.
Richard added that if Turkey accepted to command the ISAF, France would be ready to cooperate in providing stability in Afghanistan and in rebuilding Afghanistan.
Richard stressed that the main aim of his visit was political, adding that they had confirmed that the two countries shared values and opinions that their leaders would act together in difficult situations.
Noting that he had exchanged opinions in fields of economy and defense during his contacts, Richard said that France was open to an increase in investments in some fields and that they were ''quite satisfied'' with the cooperation with the Turkish manufacturing and industry sector.
Regarding the defense auctions, Richard said that the decision was up to Turkish officials and that they respected Turkey's freedom of choice.
Noting that they had ''done a good job'' as a result of the both sides' good will and desire during his contacts in last 24 hours in Ankara, Richard said that they wanted to ''recover the current situation''.
Responding a question about French Thales company, Richard said that Turkey had decided to continue talks with the company and that technical negotiations were under way.
Responding a question about the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), Richard said that they were pleased with the compromise reached among Turkey, Britain and the United States and they had accepted the agreement and with this respect, they had thanked Turkey and Britain.
Noting that they wanted the agreement remain the same, Richard said that they were continuing their contacts with Greece.
Stating that there was a broad understanding between the NATO and European Union (EU) on full cooperation, Richard said that this understanding was also shared by Turkey and that he ''was sure'' that it would be shared also by Greece.
Responding a question about adoption of bill on so-called Armenian genocide, Richard said that the French government considered this a unilateral decision taken by the parliament.
Stressing that relations between Turkey and France in many other issues were positive, Richard said that France extended strategic support to Turkey in its EU process.
Richard said that France was also trying to help Turkey in its fight against economic crisis.
Noting that all of those issues were encouraging in regard to start of a new process between the two countries, Richard said that they hoped to get serious results in the shortest time.
Later, Richard left Ankara for France.