Wolfowitz: Turkish - U.S. Cooperation Will Play Key Role For A Peaceful Solution On Iraq Issue

ANKARA - The U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said on Tuesday that Turkish-United States cooperation would play the key role for a peaceful solution on Iraq issue.
Wolfowitz and the U.S. Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman met Prime Minister Abdullah Gul for nearly an hour.
Speaking after the meeting, Wolfowitz said they took up many issues including Iraq.
Wolfowitz said finding a peaceful solution to Iraqi problem was brought onto the agenda, adding that Iraqi Head of State Saddam Hussein had to be convinced pertaining to purification of his country from mass destruction weapons.
Wolfowitz said Turkish-United States cooperation would have a key role for a peaceful solution on Iraqi issue.
When asked if deployment of American units to Turkey was brought onto the agenda during the meeting, Wolfowitz said a new period has started with resolution no:1441 accepted by the U.N. Security Council, and that during the meeting they focused on convincing of Saddam Hussein to abide by this decision.
Stressing that Iraq should be purified from mass destruction weapons, Wolfowitz said they were not playing a game. He said the U.S. President George Bush had also stated that force could be used if necessary. Wolfowitz said Turkish-United States cooperation was extremely important.

WOLFOWITZ: WE SUPPORT TURKEY'S EU PROCESS
Wolfowitz said the U.S. President George Bush was the first foreign statesmen congratulating Gul. He said this was the indication of the dimensions of cooperation between the two countries.
Wolfowitz said they discussed Turkish-EU relations and Cyprus as well as Iraq. He said they would continue to expend support to Turkey's EU full membership.
Wolfowitz said they supported an urgent and lasting solution on Cyprus issue.
Stating that an important process was waiting for Turkish government, Wolfowitz said cooperation between the United States and Turkey was very important.
When asked whether or not he had the impression during his meeting with Gul that he was against a possible operation on Iraq, Wolfowitz said Turkey's concerns generally depended on economic basis.
Expressing readiness to expend support for the recovery of the Turkish economy, Wolfowitz said Turkey was among the countries which will be effected the most in case any crisis erupts in Iraq. He said the United States would do its best to meet Turkey's loses in this case.