ANKARA, Turkey, March 20 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney departed Turkey on Wednesday, leaving unanswered questions behind, according to sources close to the talks.
"For one thing, he was half way to what he wanted from Turkey with regard to U.S possible military action against Iraq," one source said.
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told reporters after meeting with Cheney on Tuesday that his guest had told him there would not be an operation against Iraq in the foreseeable future.
"That's what I have been saying at every stop," Cheney said during a briefing with reporters following Ecevit's remarks.
Cheney canceled his news conference in Ankara Wednesday morning, raising concern he was upset over Ecevit's remarks. The vice president dismissed such speculation, saying there never was a plan for a joint news conference.
"Our embassy had given preliminary approval, I guess, to my holding a press conference with the Turkish press, but that's not anything we were signed up to do," he added.
He said his meeting with Ecevit went very well.
Ecevit answered questions on Iraq Wednesday during an interview with a private local television channel and described Cheney's visit with only one sentence. "We are relieved," he said without elaborating.
Cheney's insistence on a meeting Tuesday night with the head of Turkish General Staff, Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, sparked criticism it was unusual and undiplomatic. Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu was not present but Ecevit noted the United States was Turkey's strategic ally and it was only natural for Cheney to talk with Kivrikoglu.
"No comment," Cakmakoglu said Wednesday when asked why he was not invited to the talks.
Cheney's visit came against the backdrop of a decision by the Turkish government not to contribute troops to a possible U.S. campaign against Iraq. It said it stands ready to negotiate about -- but not to flatly agree -- to provide logistic support in such an attack.
Kivrikoglu reportedly also told Cheney Turkey opposed a possible operation against Iraq and that two wars in the region -- a reference to Middle East violence -- was "too much to handle."
Cheney was pleased, however, Turkey had agreed to provide future leadership of Afghanistan's International Security Assistance Force.
"I think we are pretty close for Turkey's taking over the command from Britain, whose mandate ends in June, Cheney told reporters Wednesday.
Turkey has said certain issues, such as financing, needed to be settled for an agreement was finalized.
Ecevit said Cheney told him the Bush administration, "as a gesture" would ask Congress for $228 million to be extended to Turkey. Officials later said $28 million would be used to transport Turkish troops to Afghanistan and the remaining $200 million would be economic aid.
Cheney said U.S. forces would remain in Afghanistan for some, but added, "I cannot put a frame on it."
