Ali Babacan: US may need Turkey to withdraw troops from Iraq

PanARMENIAN.Net - 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 Hurriyet Daily News reports. 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.