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US Secretary of State Colin Powell said here on Wednesday that there is no need for Turkish military forces to enter Northern Iraq.
Powell made the remarks at a joint press conference following talks with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul and his meetings with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan.
He said that the United States and Turkey will cooperate in humanitarian assistance to Iraq and rebuilding of the country in the post-war period.
Powell arrived in Ankara, capital of Turkey, late Tuesday night for a "surprise" visit to Turkey.
Powell said that his visit will contribute to strengthening existing ties between the two countries.
Powell said that it is unnecessary to open up "northern front" from Turkey as the US put special paratroops from airplanes to northern Iraq.
For his part, Gul said they wishes the Iraq war not to last long and to end with minimum loss for all the sides.
He said that "Turkey is in the coalition and acts together with the allied countries," and that the Turkish parliament has determined the legal limits of the support which Turkey would expend.
Advanced cooperation facilities were discussed during his meeting with Powell, said Gul, adding that Powell's visit would further strengthen Turkish-U.S. relations and overcome suspicions of those who have doubts on bilateral ties.
Gul added that US airplanes can use the air fields in Turkey ifthey are in trouble.
On March 1, Turkish parliament rejected a motion provided by the Turkish government for the deployment of 62,000-strong US troops on the soil of Turkey for the "Northern Front" in a bid to strike at Iraq. But later the parliament only approved the motion for the opening of the Turkish airspace for the United States.
(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2003)
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