They are pleased with troop decision

Westmacott who attended a seminar at Bilkent Hotel replied to questions of reporters.

Upon a question on his view on Turkey’s sending soldiers to Iraq, Westmacott said that security was very important and stated that they aimed to restore peace there. Westmacott said that they were very pleased with the decision of the parliament to send soldiers to Iraq and stated that Turkish soldiers would extend great help to settlement of security there. He said that Turkish soldiers would make great contributions to not only settlement of security in the region but also meeting humanitarian aid. Westmacott added that they were expecting when and how Turkish soldiers would be sent to Iraq to be determined in talks between Turkey and United States.

Asked whether or not Turkey’s sending soldiers to Iraq would affect negatively the country’s accession to the European Union (EU), Westmacott said that he did not see any connection between those issues and stated that Turkey’s fulfillment of Copenhagen criteria was an important step in its path to EU. Westmacott said that they would carry on the process concerning this issue in 2004 and stated that Iraq and EU were different issues. He added that it was not true to make a connection between those issues.