Gul Has Phone Conversation With Powell

ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul spoke with U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell by telephone on Sunday.
A statement of Prime Ministry Press Center said that the phone conversation took place upon Powell's demand and the results of the vote on the motion on deployment of foreign troops in Turkey and dispatch of Turkish troops abroad was evaluated.
The statement noted, ''Powell thanked and appreciated the efforts of our government about this issue and noted that consultations between us regarding the future of Iraq and situation in Northern Iraq would continue and our economic cooperation would continue uninterruptedly.''
''Our prime minister stressed the priority and importance we attached to our strategic relations with the United States and pointed out that these relations continued in many fields. Powell said that relations between two friendly countries Turkey and the United States were solid,'' the statement said.
The statement added, ''our prime minister and U.S. State Secretary confirmed that they were in a consensus to keep the lines of communication open.''
(BRC-AY) 03.03.2003