IZMIR - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Thursday, ''State Minister Ali Babacan and Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis hold contacts in the United States on several issues. They will return to Turkey in the weekend.''
Addressing journalists in Balcova town of western province of Izmir, Prime Minister Gul said, ''State Minister Babacan and Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis left for the United States to hold a series of contacts. Their contacts will focus on several issues including economy. They will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. They will return to Turkey in the weekend.''
When asked, ''will you submit the motion about deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey to the parliament on February 18 or will you wait for results of the talks in the United States?'' Prime Minister Gul said, ''this is a process. All these issues are regarded with each other. When our friends return to Turkey, we will discuss all these issues and do the right thing. We will hold a meeting in Ankara on Friday with participation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, experts, high-ranking military officials and other authorities.''
When asked whether or not his telephone diplomacy with regional leaders has been continuing, Prime Minister Gul said, ''yes, it has been continuing. Yesterday, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer held a telephone conversation with President Jacques Chirac of France. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is speaking at the German parliament today. European Union (EU) summit will start on February 17 and continue till February 18. They invited us to attend the summit.''
GUL: I PLAN TO PAY A VISIT TO THE TRNC
Gul said, ''we have always attributed great importance to Cyprus and will continue to do so in the future. The process in Cyprus will continue till February 28. The Cyprus question is one of the prior issues of our foreign policy. Meanwhile, elections will be held in the Greek Cypriot side. We have been monitoring all developments. I plan to pay a visit to the TRNC in coming days.''
When asked, ''Turkish economic circles say that Turkey would suffer a loss of 20 billion U.S. dollars because of a possible military operation against Iraq. On the other hand, U.S. officials say that Turkey might suffer a loss of 3-5 billion U.S. dollars. What do you say about it?'' Prime Minister Gul said, ''these uncertainties will come to an end till the weekend. All these issues will be taken up during contacts of State Minister Ali Babacan and Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis in the United States.''
Responding a question about France's proposal on deployment of United Nations' forces in Iraq, Prime Minister Gul said, ''anything has not become official yet. United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) Chairman Hans Blix and International Atomic Energy (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei will release their report on February 14.''
When asked whether or not he had held any other secret meetings except for his meeting with Iraqi Vice President Taha Yasin Ramadan, Prime Minister Gul said, ''no. Our contacts have been continuing through Turkish Ambassador to Iraq and Iraqi Ambassador to Turkey. I did not receive any message from Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.''