Yakis: Summit Will Take Place On January 23 In Istanbul

When asked whether or not the meeting which would take place on Thursday would pioneer another high level meeting, or whether or not the meetings would continue in this level, Yakis said this would be decided in Istanbul.
When Yakis was reminded the news reports which appeared in New York Times that Turkey gave permission to the United States to use bases, Yakis said he did not have a statement saying permission was given for usage of bases.
”If such a thing is written, this is not right. We only authorized our military authorities to negotiate with the U.S. military authorities. Military authorities of the two countries would determine what kind of a cooperation could be done in a level which will not make North alternative meaningless,” Yakis said.

EGYPT CONSIDERS ”REGIONAL MEETING” AS A POSITIVE EFFORT AND A GOOD STUDY
Egypt considered ”regional meeting” which is planned to take place in Istanbul on January 23 with the participation of regional countries for the solution of Iraqi problem through peaceful ways as a positive effort and a good study.
Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak received on Tuesday Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Saud al-Faysal who was in Cairo. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Mahar also attended the meeting.
Mahar and al-Faysal released a joint statement after the meeting and said that relations between the two countries, Iraq and Middle East issues were taken up in the meeting.
Mahar told A.A. correspondent that Turkey’s initiative was a positive effort and a good study. He said they would meet on January 23. Mahar said Turkey does not have any proposal and that they would dýscuss Iraqý ýssue.
Meanwhile, Mubarak received the United States congress delegation which arrived in Cairo in the morning.