ANKARA, March 21 (A.A) - While the studies on the technical details on the transfer of International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF) command to Turkey continues, Turkish, British and American officials decided to come together in the beginning of next week.
Diplomatic sources told A.A on Thursday that the negotiations on the technical details of the issue are positive, but they have not been completed.
Turkey which submitted its demands to the other side about the ''limitation of the ISAF's mandate with Kabul, getting financial, logistics and intelligence support, determination of the period of ISAF's mandate, and the condition of non-withdrawal of countries which take part in ISAF,'' wants inclusion of all her conditions into a document to be signed by British and American officials.
Britain and the U.S. which are not warm to the idea of broadening the scope of the ISAF, believe that the issue of financial support has not been clarified and that the technical details would be discussed again in the meetings to be held between 25-26 March.
Sources who said that Turkey can't met alone the capacities and capabilities which Britain has as the ISAF leader, added that international financial support was necessary. They remind that no money has been transferred to the fund that was earlier formed to this end.
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told earlier the same day that the decree on the transfer of the ISAF's command was not opened to signature.
CAKMAKOGLU ''HOON REITERATED THEIR REQUEST REGARDING TURKISH SOLDIERS' TAKING OVER ISAF'S COMMAND IN AFGHANISTAN''
National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said on Thursday that British Secretary of State for Defense Geoffrey Hoon reiterated their request regarding Turkish soldiers' taking over command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
Following his meeting with Hoon, Cakmakoglu met with Lord Bach, the British Undersecretary of State for Defense and Minister for Defense Procurement.
Cakmakoglu told a press conference at Turkish Embassy in London that Hoon assured that every kind of assistance and support would be provided to Turkish soldiers during their mission in Afghanistan.
He held very beneficial contacts in Britain, where he came as the official guest of Hoon, Cakmakoglu said.
Cakmakoglu noted that he took up issues concerning the two countries and his ministry and regional issues during his contacts and drew the attention that developments related with ISAF came to the agenda during his meetings.
Financial support was among the issues that should be illuminated related with Turkey's taking over the mission in Afghanistan after Britain, Cakmakoglu stated.
Cakmakoglu said that Hoon reiterated their request regarding Turkey's taking over the command of ISAF after Britain and promised to extend support to Turkey.
They also took up Cyprus question, Cakmakoglu noted and said, ''we also touched on terrorism and counter terrorism. I thanked him for Britain's banning illegal organizations that we consider as terrorist organization.''
Cakmakoglu pointed out that he drew the attention of Hoon to activities that those organization made by making use of some legal gaps.
He expressed Turkey's sadness over EU's terrorist groups list, Cakmakoglu said and noted that he was pleased to see that Britain was sharing Turkey's views.
Cakmakoglu said that he reiterated Turkey's views about European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) and noted, ''I drew the attention to the Ankara Agreement prepared by EU countries and participation of the United States and reiterated that the initiatives that Turkey would make would be limited with these borders.''
He debated defense industry relations and issues related with needs of armed forces in both countries during his meeting with Lord Bach, Cakmakoglu stated.
Cakmakoglu said, ''we have reached a consensus of opinion of three articles about a cooperation between two countries that regard mutual interest, technology and research and development.''
Iraq was not on the agenda of his contact, Cakmakoglu noted.
Cakmakoglu said that the issues like the number and equipment of Turkish soldiers who would probably go to Afghanistan concerned armend forces rather than politicians and that they did not discuss those issues.
Asked if there was a compromise on the period of mission of the force that would probably go to Afghanistan, Cakmakoglu said, ''the importance of Afghanistan issue was stressed during the meetings. It was noted that the mission was not an easy one. The necessity of taking up these details within the dimensions of importance was stressed.''
Upon a question about the schedule of the mission, Cakmakoglu said, ''this issue is also among things that should be illuminated and they are a matter of discussion.''