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'US will bypass Turkey in Iraq arms withdrawal'
[Pak Daily Times] The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff on Saturday said the United States does not plan to use Turkish territory in withdrawing its weapons from Iraq.Adm. Mike Mullen, the highest-ranking military official in the US armed forces, spoke at a news conference in Ankara. News reports suggesting his visit was about the transfer of heavy combat equipment from Iraq via Turkey were 'simply false and completely without merit,' he said. 'We do not transport weapons through Turkey, nor do we plan to in the future,' Mullen said. The admiral held meetings with the new Turkish chief of general staff, Gen. Isik Kosaner, and Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul in Ankara on Friday. He planned to meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan later Saturday. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal said Friday that the United States has not made any request with regard to weaponry withdrawal through Turkey during the pullout of combat forces from Iraq. 'We look favourably on the transfer of non-military elements and technical material via Turkey,' Unal said. Posted by: Fred 2010-09-05 |
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