Yakis: We Already Had Relations And Friendship With The United States Before Iraq

ANKARA - Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said on Wednesday that Turkey had already business relations and friendship with the United States before Iraq issue emerged and added that if it was understood that cooperation concerning Iraq would not satisfy both sides, the cooperation would continue in other fields due to the will of the Parliament.
Noting that whether motion would be sent to General Assembly of Parliament today or not was related to developments, Yakis said that if motion was accepted, the things which were planned to be done together with the United States in Iraq would be fulfilled easier.
Yakis responded questions of reporters in the Parliament as Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Group meeting was continuing.
Upon a question whether motion would be brought into agenda of Parliament today, Yakis said that it depended on the course of discussions.
When asked about the possibility of rejecting the motion, Yakis said that it would be cleared after meetings with deputies.
When asked if the government could use the possibility of being rejected at the parliament as a tactic, he said, ''definitely no, it will be better for us to hold our breath because it is a critical stage.''
When replying the question whether signing the agreement with the United States would be on government level, Yakis said that it would not be on government or ministerial level, adding that a high level official or U.S. Ambassador could sign the agreement.
Upon a question whether there would be a letter exchange between two countries, Yakis said that the letter exchange would constitute a binding element for the United States. The letter by the U.S. President would be a commitment by his administration. It would be a letter saying that the United States was committed to fulfil its undertakings, he said.
When asked ''Does this motion correspond to these undertakings of the United States?'' Yakis said that we think that it corresponds.
Responding to another question, Yakis said that if there were sensitive issues concerning military operation, it should be kept secret.
When asked first and second articles of the motion could be voted separately, Yakis said that jurists told them that it could be voted separately if parliament speaker or deputies proposed it.
Asked what would happen if the second article was rejected, he said, ''it would be rejected.''
Stating that deputies made a presentation, Yakis said that he told deputies everything he knew.
Upon a question on statements of Parliament Speaker Arinc, he said that Arinc was a good jurist and he knew very well regulations.
When asked whether they would bring the motion to the parliament again if the motion was rejected, he said, ''if one of two articles is accepted, the other would be rejected. We cannot bring it again.''
Yakis said, ''if cooperation between Turkey and the United States in Iraq does not work in a way that the two sides want, our cooperation will continue in other fields due to the will of the parliament. France and Germany cannot cooperate in that issue with the United States, but they did not end all cooperation with the United States. Cooperation continues. If it is accepted, we can do more easily things which we think to do together in Iraq.''
When reminded about news stories that if the motion was not accepted, a U.S. dollar could increase to 2 million 500 thousand Turkish liras, Yakis said that he thought that the United States had no effect on shrinkage of Turkish economy.
(GC-EÖ-AÖ) 26.02.2003