ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer held a telephone conversation with President Jacques Chirac of France on Wednesday.
Releasing a statement, the Presidential Press Center recalled that President Chirac had called President Sezer on the phone and given information about his country's attitude towards the Iraq issue and consultations in NATO.
Stressing that France was in favor of elimination weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, President Chirac said, ''I wish Iraq would be purified from weapons of mass destruction through peaceful methods without launching a military operation. According to my point of view, resolution of the United Nations Security Council no: 1441 should be put into practice with a consolidated supervision mechanism.''
President Chirac also explained his views about the consultations in NATO about the alliance's role in a possible military operation against Iraq.
Noting that there had been a complete solidarity between Turkey and France, two allied countries, President Chirac stressed, ''France will assume its obligations if Turkey is really threatened.''
Stating that approval of measures, which were brought onto agenda of NATO, would not be appropriate in terms of timing, President Chirac said that such an approval would be perceived as NATO's support to a possible military operation against Iraq and preparation for the operation.
President Chirac emphasized that France did not consider such an operation inevitable.
He stressed that Turkey would have an important role in solving the Iraq issue peacefully.
Meanwhile, President Sezer said in his part, ''Turkey also wants the Iraq issue to be resolved peacefully. The Turkish government has been expending great efforts to this end. If a military operation becomes inevitable against desire of Turkey, Article 92 of the Constitution entails the parliament to seek international legitimacy in taking a decision to support such an operation.''
Highlighting importance of reaching a compromise, which will pave way for planning of possibilities in NATO, President Sezer said, ''NATO Secretary General George Robertson's proposals has constituted a good ground for a compromise among the allied countries.''
President Sezer and President Chirac pledged to remain in contact in the coming days.