ANKARA - Turkey and the United States almost reached a deal in political negotiations as military, economic and political talks regarding a possible action against Iraq continued.
Diplomatic sources said that U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson, who came to the Foreign Ministry with responses of Washington, was conveyed responses of Turkey regarding military, economic and political issues.
Sources noted that compromise was reached on many of political issues and deal was almost reached on political negotiations.
Meanwhile, it was stated that a compromise was reached on distribution of weapons to Kurdish groups in Northern Iraq and within this framework, weapons would be distributed to those groups with a cooperation of the two countries and then, would be taken back.
Ankara welcomes participation of Turkish experts in an interim Iraqi administration to be formed in Iraq after Saddam Hussein in case the administration had an international quality.
Turkey also states that Iraqi people who are respected by the Iraqi society and who are shown by Ankara can be included in the new Iraqi administration.
Meanwhile, military negotiations chaired by Deniz Bolukbasi and Marisa Lilo were suspended.
(BRC-AY) 23.02.2003