WASHINGTON D.C. (A.A) - 16.07.2002 - Spokesman of the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) Victoria Clarke said responding to the claims that the visit of U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to Turkey was paid to prepare for an operation against Iraq, that ''it is for certain that we won't talk from this podium about the things that can take place in the future.''
Speaking to journalists at Pentagon, Clarke said that Turkey is a very very important country which is at an important point. ''We have long term relations with Turkey. There is no extraordinary situation in the visit of American administration's officials to this country. The visit of Wolfowitz to Turkey was planned long time ago to discuss many and different issues,'' she said.
Clarke stressed that there are many different issues on the agenda of Wolfowitz, adding that the experience of Turkey, which is a close friend of the U.S., about terrorism shows that it is also sensitive about the problems the U.S. faces.
''As U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld always says, Turkey is a close friend of the U.S. and a NATO ally. Wolfowitz also speaks about the important role Turkey plays against terrorism and the importance of the U.S.'s relations with Turkey. Turkey is sensitive and understanding about the problems we face due to its terrorism experience it had in its region,'' Clarke said.
Pentagon officials said in a briefing last Friday that the most important issue on Wolfowitz's agenda was Iraq and that the U.S. administration has not given its definite decision about this issue.