Karzai welcomes Turkey's peacekeeping plan

Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai welcomed Turkey’s plans to take over command of the international peacekeeping force in Kabul, saying the two nations would also work together to stamp out opium poppy cultivation.

Karzai arrived in Ankara for an official visit yesterday, just as his country announced a ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan.

Opium and heroin cultivated in Afghanistan often reaches Europe through Turkey.

Last weekend, Turkish police seized 7.5 tons of unrefined morphine, a poppy extract, which originated in Afghanistan.

Police said it was the largest single haul of base morphine ever.

Karzai said he was pleased Turkey would take on the peacekeeping mission and dismissed concerns Turkish troops would become embroiled in renewed unrest.

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said long discussions between Turkish, British and US officials about the conditions under which Turkey would take over control of the force from Britain ‘‘have to a great extent resulted in agreement.’’ Britain wants to hand over command this month, before the mission’s mandate expires in June.

One point of contention was the peacekeeping force’s geographical boundaries. Karzai said he had asked that the force’s mission be extended beyond Kabul during talks with Ecevit. ‘‘That is what the people want,’’ he said.

He did not say what Ecevit’s reply was.