"We are looking at all factors for troop deployment"

He said the General Staff was looking into issue, including all risk factors, and that following this, the government would take up the question. Stressing that Turkey’s intelligence services were investigating whether Iraqis would welcome Turkish soldiers or not, Gul said, “We should be sure that our troops are welcome, as they were in Bosnia.” Regarding the parliamentarians’ urging that the matter be legitimized through the framework of NATO and the United Nations, Gul said, “Absent a motion and Parliament’s authorization, there will be no troop deployment.” He added that his government would very much prefer to act in line with NATO and UN resolutions.