US says Turkey’s loan tied to cooperation in Iraq

ANKARA (AA) – US Ambassador Eric Edelman said today that $8.5 billion US loan package would be extended on the condition of Turkey’s fulfilling the conditions of its economic program first and cooperation with the US in Iraq second, but added that sending Turkish troops to Iraq was not a condition for the package.

Edelman said after meeting Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu that he talked over gaining depth to US-Turkish cooperation and economic ties. “I believe that we will make progress on this way. There is a long way to go, but we will continue to work.”