Iraq summit in Cankaya ends
ANKARA (Turkishnewsline) – The cankaya summit, which started at 3.00 p.m. lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes.
All eyes have turned to today’s Iraq summit at Cankaya, after both the government and the Bureau of Chief of General Staff decide on their stance.
The meeting was chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Chief of General Staff General Hilmi Ozkok, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, National Intelligence Agency Director Senkal Atasagun and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal will be in attendance.
Government wants to repair its relations with US, after Parliament blocked US troop deployment in Turkey on March 1, and wants to have a say in post-war reconstruction of Iraq and sees the request for troops as a step in the right direction.
Yesterday Deputy Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit had implied that the army was inclined to accept US request. Besides President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who thinks Turkish troops have to serve under a UN mandate, all top state officials think Turkey has to send troops. Army and the government will try to convince the president.
FINAL DECISION IN MGK MEETING
Today’s summit will just be a preparation for the National Security Council meeting on August 22, where the final decision will be taken.
Meanwhile, Turkey is waiting for a reply to a letter it sent to US government asking where Turkish soldiers might be deployed, how many soldier were needed. The reply is expected to influence the final decision.
