Yakis: Defense Of Turkey Has Not Been Vetoed

ANKARA - Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said on Monday that the ongoing problem in NATO was not related with Turkey's defense but in fact related with the timing of a possible operation against Iraq.
Replying questions of reporters, Yakis said, ''some countries have problems with the timing. I guess that these countries will come to the point defended by Turkey and the United States as these concerns are overcome.''
On a question about France's decision to end process of silence, Yakis said, '' defense of Turkey has not been vetoed. What is vetoed is whether such an operation is right or wrong at the moment or a U.N. resolution should be awaited. That is, it is not a discussion on whether or not to support Turkey in case of a war.''
He would receive information from Turkey's Permanent Representative to NATO Ahmet Uzumcu after the NATO Council meeting ended, Yakis stated.
Asked about the importance of the issue in regard to NATO's future, Yakis said, ''these problems can be overcome because there is not any difference regarding the essence of the issue. Some countries have problems with the timing. I guess that these countries will come to the point defended by Turkey and the United States as these concerns are overcome.''
YAKIS: ''I TALKED TO FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THREE COUNTRIES ON PHONE''
Replying to questions of reporters, Yakis said that he talked to the foreign ministers of Belgium, Germany and France on the phone the previous weekend and asked them not to harm the process of silence.
Yakis said, ''because, the issue is not Turkey's declaring a war against Iraq or entrance of NATO in war. It is instruction of political authorities in NATO to military authorities to start making cautionary planning.''
He also told the same thing to Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou during their contact held on another reason, Yakis noted.
Yakis quoted Papandreou as saying that he would try to convince foreign ministers of those three countries.
He talked to Papandreou on the phone on Sunday evening, Yakis pointed out and said that he brought the issue onto agenda again.
Yakis quoted Papandreou as saying that he would talk to foreign ministers of the three countries once more.
Responding to a question about his phone conversation with Papandreou, Yakis said that Papandreou asked for a date for meetings on security regarding Cyprus and they debated that issue.
Yakis noted that he told Papandreou that talks could begin as of February 17 if it was suitable for delegations of the two countries.
Turkey preferred Ankara as the venue of the talks to other places, Yakis said.
Yakis pointed out that it was obligatory for Turkish officials to be in Turkey due to recent developments in the region.
''Papandreou said that they were very busy because his country was the European Union Term President but they will try to appoint a head to the delegation which can come to Turkey. We both said that heads of the Turkish and Greek delegations can set the place and date of their meeting. I don't think this will cause any problem,'' added Yakis.