Ildem: Iraqi Administration's Acceptance Of U.N. Resolution Is A Positive Development

ANKARA - Presidential Foreign Affairs Chief Adviser Tacan Ildem said on Friday that Iraqi administration's acceptance of the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council no. 1441 resolution was a positive development and added, ''Turkey will continue to encourage Iraqi administration about the issue and continue to prevent it from assuming a contrary attitude.''
Ildem said that a meeting on Iraqi issue was held under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, with participation of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok.
Stating that General Staff and Foreign Ministry officials informed participants about political and military aspect of Iraqi issue and added that the issue was evaluated at the meeting which was held in Presidential Residence.
Ildem said, ''Iraq has to totally and unconditionally implement U.N. Security Council no. 1441 resolution and be purified from mass destruction weapons and their capabilities. Iraqi administration's acceptance of no. 1441 resolution is a positive development. The steps that Iraqi administration will take aiming at putting into practice this resolution will prevent need for a military operation. Turkey will continue to encourage the Iraqi administration about this issue and prevent it from assuming a contrary attitude.''
Stating that Turkey had big economic losses during Gulf War, Ildem said that a military operation would negatively affect not only Turkish economy but also regional stability. Ildem added that Turkey's hope was finding a peaceful solution to the problem through implemention of U.N. Security Council resolution.
Ildem said that the United States was a strategic partner of Turkey and noted, ''we continue to hold consultation with the United States about the issue. We have to consider our contacts with the U.S. deputy defense and state secretaries to take place next week within this framework. Turkey still takes into consideration the principle of international legitimacy when a military operation is to be launched. Naturally, Turkey will give priority to its national interests in the decisions it will make. The situation will continue to be evaluated in coming days.''
Upon a question if the United States made a demand from Turkey related with troops, Ildem said that there was no demand from the United States.
Asked if the United States demanded bases from Turkey, Ildem noted, ''when we say there has been no demand, this covers everything.''