Turkey plans to host April Iraq security meeting

Turkey is preparing to host a meeting next month of Iraq's neighbors with the participation of the United Nations' five permanent Security Council members and the Group of Eight (G8).

Turkish diplomatic sources told The New Anatolian yesterday that during his visit to the U.S last month Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul sounded out U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about holding a conference that would include both decision-makers and financial supporters. Saying that Turkish Foreign Ministry formulized the meeting during Gul's talks in Washington, the sources added Turkey is planning to enlarge the meeting.

Sources underlined that Iraq's neighbors including Iran and Syria have agreed to join U.S. and British representatives to discuss the Iraqi security crisis at a regional conference on March 10 in Baghdad.

Diplomatic sources said that meeting will focus on technical issues. Turkey's special representative to Iraq, Ambassador Oguz Celikkol, is expected to attend.

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