US SAYS IT MAY NEED TURKEY WHILE WITHDRAWING TROOPS FROM IRAQ, BABACAN

Anadolu Agency
March 16 2009
Turley

ANKARA (A.A) -16.03.2009 -Turkish Foreign Minister said on Monday
that US earlier told Turkey that it might need Turkey in general
sense while withdrawing its troops from Iraq.

In an exclusive interview with Kanal 24 tv channel, foreign minister
Ali Babacan said US has not yet made plans about the number of soldiers
and the route it would withdraw the troops.

Babacan said the United States would inform Turkey about its plans
and Turkey would make assessments about it.

"Iraqi people supports withdrawal of the US soldiers and they want
this to take place soon," Babacan said and noted that Iraq had given
a signal to Turkey to assist this.

Babacan said Turkey would of course consider its own conditions on
the matter.

Asked to comment on scheduled visit of US President Barack Obama
to Turkey, Babacan said this was a result of the positive impact of
Turkey’s influence both in its own region and in the world.

When asked what would be the agenda of the meeting with Obama,
Babacan said Afghanistan-Pakistan, developments in the Middle East,
Iran, the Caucasus, Balkans, Cyprus, Armenia, as well as Iraq would
be discussed during the talks.

Responding to a question about relations with Armenia, Babacan said,
"more than 1.5 years have passed since the start of talks. The process
progresses well. We target normalisation of relations and important
steps have been taken in this respect."