ANKARA - U.S. President George W. Bush's envoy to the Iraqi opposition, Zalmay Khalilzad, met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal on Wednesday.
Following the meeting, Khalilzad told reporters that they had started contacts about the political process regarding the possibility of use of military force against Iraq.
Khalilzad said that they agreed to set up a sub-committee which would work on a memorandum of understanding regarding consultations between Turkey and the United States about the future of Iraq.
Turkey was a ''vital and strategic ally'', Khalilzad stated.
Khalilzad noted that long term interests of Turkey and the United States were in question and said that they were grateful for Turkey's efforts.
Replying a question about the content of the memorandum of understanding, Khalilzad said that ''a few people'' were designated to deal with that issue and they would later inform the press.
On the meeting of the Iraqi opposition groups in Ankara on Thursday, Khalilzad said that they would discuss whether or not to use force and arrangements related with the post Saddam Hussein era.
Khalilzad noted that the meeting ''was an opportunity for the sides to share their views.''
Noting that he also served as Bush's envoy to Afghanistan, Khalilzad thanked Turkey for its contributions to Afghanistan and said that there were many things that regional countries would learn from Turkey.
Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ali Tuygan said that Iraqi issue was at a critical stage and noted, ''there are some known principles and our contacts will continue within the scope of these principles.''
Asked if the military dimension of the issue was taken up, Tuygan said that they had a political consultation and all aspects of the issue were debated.
Upon insistent questions about the same issue, Tuygan said, ''this issue is among the issues we will debate, but they are issues that necessitate decisions of the government and parliament.''