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| Iraq |
| Press Scan - Turkish Daily News |
| 2003-02-26 |
| These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 26, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. U.S. SOLDIERS WILL BE DEPLOYED IN SIX TENT-SITES Tent-sites will be set up in Gaziantep, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Malatya, Batman and Silopi in southeast Anatolia for 62 thousand U.S. soldiers with the secret agreement between Turkey and the United States. U.S. soldiers who will arrive in Iskenderun by seaway will come to Gaziantep and will be sent to other centers. Soldiers will use Habur to enter northern Iraq. MILITARY FEELS UNEASY Ankara got angry against the attitude of Kurds which opposed allowing soldiers to enter Northern Iraq. The suspicion that the United States made Talabani and Barzani to take this step prevails. Military experts say, ''approval of the motion will be a mistake in case Northern Iraqi army does not give Northern Iraq assurances.'' AK PARTY PERSUASION ROOM Justice and Development Party (AK Party) administration will convene its group extraordinarily this morning to convince many parliamentarians who oppose to the motion regarded with deployment of United States soldiers in Turkey. The strategy, which will be covered to convince the parliamentarians, was developed in foreign ministry the day before. AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, giving hints about the meeting, pointed out that, ''we will discuss the issues with you in a meeting. We will reach a final decision before taking a group decision.'' Arm twisting to ensure measure passes UNITED STATES TO TAKE WRITTEN COMMITMENT Crisis of written commitment between Turkey and the United States pertaining to Iraq crisis was overcome. The United States in the end shed green light to the request of Turkey for a written memorandum of understanding. In case an agreement is reached in economic issues, it will be linked with a written memorandum of understanding. Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, who confirmed the news reports, pointed out that the military and political agreement started to be written. Turkey feels they got burned by the US failing to follow-up on our promises during GW1, so they wanted it in writing this time. 62 THOUSAND U.S. SOLDIERS COMING The motion on dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey has been sent to parliament. The number of foreign soldiers who will come to Turkey is equal to two army corps. The government will determine the conditions of deployment, transition and cooperation with Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). MINISTERS DON'T SIGN MOTION, THEY PUT THEIR SIGNATURE UNDER ITS REASON Government members put their signature for ''the preamble and reason'' the previous day. The real motion could be formed yesterday. There was not any agreement with the Americans yesterday. The motion was formed after it was ''signed.'' "Sign here, we'll fill in the blanks later." ONE IS GOING, ONE IS COMING As Turkey is discussing the motion which will allow in foreign troops and send Turkish soldiers abroad, the United States continues to deploy ships of military equipment in Turkish ports. Two ships unloaded almost 900 military vehicles and equipment in Iskenderun port the previous week while a U.S. cargo ship unloaded new equipment yesterday. Very quietly unloading the ships while discussions were going on. Read another report that some of the first vehicles off-loaded were tank transporters. They'll be ready when the tanks come off the ships, if they haven't already. Saw a report in a Texas paper that Fort Hood set a new record for deploying their equipment to the docks. Expect the same on the Turkish end. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 Here's a radical thought, maybe if Turkey got its act together, the kurds would actually want to join a successful country. But I'm ignorant, what do I know. I'm just part of the how did Le Monde put it, "The [French] masses understand nothing, which is normal. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-02-26 12:11:47 |
| #1 Very quietly unloading, with Geraldo Rivera on the scene. |
| Posted by: becky 2003-02-26 10:49:06 |