Firat: Submission Of Motion To Parliament This Week Does Not Seem Likely

ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat said on Monday that submission of the motion on deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey and sending Turkish soldiers abroad to parliament that week did not seem likely.
Following the AK Party Central Execution Board meeting, Firat told reporters that they were not at the stage of making a decision on submission of the motion.
Firat said that they took up internal and external developments particularly Iraqi issue during their meeting.
''Our prime minister is paying a visit to a foreign country at the moment. It is not possible to submit such a motion to parliament when the prime minister is abroad. Therefore, such a decision has not been taken yet. But, discussions and consultations continue,'' noted Firat.
Asked what Turkey's sine qua non conditions were, Firat said that Turkey had many conditions. But, he noted, he did not think that there was a disagreement.
Firat said, ''military and diplomatic contacts continue but, we have not reached any result yet.''
Asked if the motion could be presented to parliament after the response of the United States to demands of Turkey, Firat said, ''this issue is being misevaluated. We have underlined that we will exert every efforts to avoid a war even if there is only 1 percent possibility. We have not thought anything like allowing U.S. soldiers in Turkey or their passage via Turkey in return for only an economic package. But, we have to take necessary measures to minimize Turkey's losses if a war is unavoidable.''
Replying another question, Firat said that it was not possible to say anything definite about when the motion could be submitted but submission of the motion that week was unlikely under current conditions.
When he was reminded about the news that the United States would direct war ships to Persian Gulf if the mentioned motion was not passed, Firat said, ''it is the decision of the United States and it doesn't bind us much.''
When asked about the statement of British Foreign Minister Jack Straw, Firat said that ''maybe'' Turkey's stance ''delayed a war which was over at the moment.''
Firat noted that Turkey did more than its responsibilities to ensure peace and said, ''chances for peace seems to increase some. We hope chances will be more.''
Asked if there could be a possibility of not submitting motion to parliament, Firat said, ''it may be. Everything may be.''
Replying questions of reporters, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said that negotiations were not in a bottleneck.
Yakis noted that motion could be submitted to parliament if compromise was reached.
YAKIS: A MESSAGE HAS NOT BEEN CONVEYED TO UNITED STATES YET
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said on Monday that ''a message had not been conveyed to the United States yet'' regarding the statements that Prime Minister Abdullah Gul made earlier in the day.
Yakis, who came to the Foreign Ministry together with State Minister Ali Babacan, said that a message would be sent to the United States.
Prior to his departure for Brussels, Gul said, ''there are some issues important for Turkey. Those are political, military and economic issues. We have some views and concerns about those issues. We have some points important for Turkey. We think that it will be difficult to persuade the parliament before reaching a consensus on those issues. We reached this result at Sunday's meeting. We will convey those concerns to the United States today and we will do what is necessary regarding that issue.''
U.S. AMBASSADOR IN FOREIGN MINISTRY
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson held on Monday contacts in the Foreign Ministry.
Pearson met with Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, State Minister Ali Babacan and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Pearson later held a meeting with Ziyal and officials of the departments concerned with relations with Iraq and the United States.
Following that second meeting, Pearson told reporters that Turkish officials informed him about the results of their deliberations on Turkey's expectations from the United States in the event of a possible operation against Iraq.
Pearson said that he expressed views of Washington during their meeting.
He would notify Washington about the views of Turkey and ask the recommendations of the U.S. administration, Pearson noted.
Pearson stated that negotiation process with Turkey would continue.
Asked about the economic assistance package that the United States might extend to Turkey, Pearson said that he did not want to talk about details.
When asked if they were still hopeful that the second motion could be submitted to parliament on Tuesday, Pearson said that it was the Turkish government who should reply that question. But, he noted, he was always hopeful.