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| Iraq |
| Cicek: U.S. Requested Us To Permit Transit Passage Of Planes Only |
| 2003-03-19 |
| Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said on Wednesday that the U.S. urgently wanted Turkey to permit the transit passage of American planes, adding ''this is the only thing that they requested from us at this stage. Thus the motion will cover this issue.'' Cicek said that Turkish soldiers' presence in Northern Iraq was accepted in principle as a result of talks with the U.S. Cicek issued a second statement after the end of the council of ministers meeting. Noting that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called Prime Minister Abdullah Gul twice, Cicek said that the two officials talked about the Iraqi issue in a very friendly atmosphere. Cicek listed the issues which Turkey agreed with the U.S.: ''what the U.S. has only requested is for transit passage of American planes. Therefore the second element in the motion that will be submitted to the parliament will be completed in this way. The motion will cover firstly sending Turkish soldiers abroad and secondly permitting the transit passage of American planes. Another issue on which we reached agreement is that Turkish soldiers' going to Northern Iraq and their presence there has been accepted in principle. Thirdly the U.S. has confirmed our political sensitivities: the territorial integrity of Iraq, usage of the resources of Iraq by the whole Iraqi people, Turkmens' being the essential element of Iraq, and the representation of the whole Iraqi people by the new administration to be formed in Iraq. Fourthly, cooperation against terrorism will continue and no chance will be given to terrorism to get strong in Northern Iraq. Fifthly the assistance of the U.S. to the economic programme and market stability of Turkey will continue. A statement will be issued about this issue today. Lastly Turkey will benefit from the advantages of being a coalition state. Negotiations about other issues will continue in a friendly manner.'' Later reporters asked questions to Cicek. Here are the questions and answers: Question: Does not the motion cover deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey? Does not the U.S. have demands about it? Cicek: The motion will be submitted to the parliament under Article 92 of the Constitution. That issue was mentioned there. The U.S. only requests us to permit the transit passage. Question: There were military, political and economic agreements with the U.S. An economic assistance package was in question. Was any step taken regarding them? Cicek: I tell you once again, what they have only requested is for transit passage. It is only related to transit passage, and the agreements about the issues we mentioned have been confirmed once again. Negotiations about other issues will continue. Question: In your earlier statement, you mentioned sending Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey... Cicek: As the motion will be sent to the parliament according to Article 92 of the Constitution, I used the expression there. Transit passage over the airspace also necessitates permission of the parliament under Article 92 of the Constitution. The second part of the motion will be submitted to the parliament in this form and the permission will be asked at this issue. This is what the U.S. has requested from us at this moment. Question: Are the signatures complete? Cicek: Yes, they are. Question: When will the motion be discussed in the parliament? Cicek: Probably on Thursday. Question: How many Turkish soldiers will be in Northern Iraq? Cicek: Their number will be as much as necessary. OK, we are only asking for transit through Turkish airspace at this time. That means the heavy armored assault from the north is most likely off. Airborne and light forces most likely be flown in and join up with Kurdish forces. The Kurds are saying that they have been in contact with Iraqi commanders in the north and they won't fight. We'll see. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #6 or if he'd refrained from attacking the Parthians in the first place |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-19 13:22:23 |
| #5 Crassus would have met a better fate if he'd maintained several more legions. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-03-19 12:10:22 |
| #4 I believe it was the Roman politician Crassus who said you couldn't really call yourself rich unless you could maintain a legion (6000 men) out of petty cash. (Crassus could.) |
| Posted by: Dr. Weevil 2003-03-19 11:48:14 |
| #3 Someday I'd like to own an Army Corps, too. Park it on my lawn for Memorial Day and other patriotic holidays. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-03-19 11:06:21 |
| #2 According to an article in the Wall Street Journal today, Kurdish leader Barzani has been paying the salaries of the Iraqi Vth Army Corps in Kirkuk/Mosul recently. (He is a billionaire from smuggling Saddam's oil out during the sanctions era.) It seems certain they won't fight. |
| Posted by: paj 2003-03-19 09:49:00 |
| #1 Seems like the Turks are really worried about the Kurds setting themselves up in the North. Good let them be worried. |
| Posted by: bernardz 2003-03-19 08:13:32 |