Gonul: The Only Particular Point Reached With The United States Is The Military Issues

ISTANBUL - National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said on Thursday that military was one of the three issues of negotiation carried out with the United States prior to an action against Iraq. Gonul said, ''the only particular point reached with the United States is the military issues. Those are the issues which could be concluded. There is not a deviation from the agreement reached there.''
Gonul returned to Turkey after participating in meetings of the American-Turkish Council in Washington.
Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Gonul said he delivered speeches there about the current and future political and military relations between Turkey and the United States. He said such kind of meetings constituted a positive basis to discuss the steps which Turkey and the United States would take together not only in military area, but also in business.
Gonul said his meetings took place in a friendly atmosphere, and that they made mutual evaluations. He said they saw that the two sides were in agreement on many issues.
When asked whether or not the U.S. authorities have demands from Turkey pertaining to the action against Iraq, Gonul said, ''we discussed the military aspect. They welcomed the initiative of the government regarded with opening of airspace. That is what they wanted from us for the time being.''
When a reporter recalled the previous statements that Turkish soldiers should not enter Northern Iraq on their own, Gonul said, ''military is one of the three negotiation issues. An agreement could be reached only on this. There is not a deviation from the agreement reached there.''
Gonul said he would cast a positive vote for the motion which would be discussed at the parliament.
Gonul said the motion, which is expected to be issued, covered two items as far as he knew, stating that one was the opening of airspace, and the second was sending of Turkish soldiers to Northern Iraq.
(AY-AÖ) 20.03.2003