Turkey Assesses Response Of U.S.

ANKARA - Turkey assesses the response of the U.S. to the expectations of Turkey within the scope of a possible operation against Iraq.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson brought on Wednesday morning a ''verbal response including the demands of the U.S. in return to the demands of Turkey'' to the Foreign Ministry.
Diplomatic sources said that the response was being assessed, adding that the process continued. In return to the time pressure of the U.S., the sources think that 'if time is that important for the U.S., then it has to take action as soon as possible.'
Sources said that military, economic and political negotiations between Turkey and the U.S. would continue, adding that the issues which were discussed were still uncertain. ''Everything is in limbo,'' they said.
No consensus was reached on three fields, yet progress was recorded in certain issues, diplomatic sources said, adding a consensus was reached to a great degree about the issues in which Turkey was sensitive regarding the future of Iraq. They said an agreement was reached in issues such as protection of territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq, Turkmens and sharing of energy sources. An agreement was reached in the field of ''command'' regarding military issues, sources said, adding the sides agreed that a Turkish commander would command Turkish soldiers and an American commander would command American soldiers and that the activities of the two military units would be coordinated from one a centre.
Military contacts would continue in Foreign Ministry on Thursday.
Regarding the economic field, among the proposals of the U.S.'s response, there is also the proposal of the U.S.'s finding loan to Turkey from abroad.
(ÖS) 19.02.2003