U.S. MAY NEED TURKEY WHILE WITHDRAWING TROOPS FROM IRAQ: TURKISH FM
Xinhua General News Service
March 16, 2009 Monday 12:25 PM EST
China
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday that the United
States earlier told Turkey that it might need Turkey in general sense
while withdrawing troops from Iraq, the semi-official Anatolia news
agency reported.
Babacan said the United States has not yet made plans about the number
of soldiers and the route it would withdraw the troops, adding that it
would inform Turkey about its plans and Turkey would make assessments
about it.
"Iraqi people supports withdrawal of the U.S. soldiers and they want
this to take place soon," Babacan said and noted that Iraq had given
a signal to Turkey to assist this.
He said Turkey would of course consider its own conditions on the
matter.
Commenting on scheduled visit of U.S. President Barack Obama to Turkey
next month, Babacan said this was a result of the positive impact of
Turkey’s influence both in the region and in the world.
About 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.
In March 2003, Turkish parliament rejected to allow U.S. troops to
invade Iraq from Turkish territory.