Minister of National Defense Mehmet Vecdi Gonul of Turkey

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ANKARA, JUNE 27 (BNA) TURKISH DEFENCE MINISTER MEHMET VECDI GONUL MET HERE ON FRIDAY WITH VISITING KUWAIT'S FIRST DEPUTY PREMIER AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE SHAIKH JABER AL MUBARAK AL HAMAD.

against Kurdish separatists in Northern Iraq.

Gates and Gonul met in Ukraine before the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial, which Ukraine is hosting.

Gonul said the attack killed 17 Turkish soldiers, but sources in Ankara are reporting slightly lower casualty figures.

Gonul said plans for additional action are under way, but that an “urgent” response isn’t likely.

Scheffer, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO defence ministers, said that Turkish Defence Minister Mehmet Vecdi Gonul had informed the meeting about developments.

A NATO diplomat said, on condition that he not be named, that Gonul had thanked Scheffer for his statements of support and the allies for understanding Turkey's position.