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| Iraq |
| Turkish Press News |
| 2003-03-20 |
| NEGOTIATIONS ARE ON MILITARY AND POLITICAL ISSUES Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said concerning Iraq crisis that negotiations with the United States were continuing on political and military level. Upon a question whether an economic assistance would be provided by the United States, Erdogan said ''It is completely military and political at the moment.'' When asked whether the United States drew back six billion dollars assistance package, Erdogan said that such a condition was not in the agenda of Turkey and added that what was on the agenda was that the assistance regarding economic program would continue. ARINC: THE UNITED STATES IS ACTING TYRANNICAL Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said that the United States was completely disregarding the United Nations and international laws. Replying questions of reporters concerning the motion, Arinc said, ''the statement 'I am strong, I can do whatever I want' is more dangerous than war. With this statement, you ignore the phrase 'the one who is right is strong' and you accept the words 'the one who is strong one is rightful'. This idea is cruelty and tyranny in the world.'' INDECISIVE ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT PUTS TURKEY INTO DIFFICULT CONDITION Uninterested and indecisive attitude which the government exhibited for 18 days pertaining to the motion on opening of air space to the U.S. planes and deployment of Turkish soldiers in Northern Iraq brought Turkey face to face with difficulty in economic, political and military areas. Unstable attitude of the government, which supported the action against Iraq, even reluctantly, brought Turkey face to face both against its most important strategical ally the United States and with its enemy. Principles pertaining to entrance of the Turkish Armed Forces in Northern Iraq could not be based on a reliable basis as the memorandum of understandings could not be signed. Accession of Turkmens to Chairmanship Council either could not be provided at the meeting of Iraqi opposition, and thus even indirectly, the financial aid facility, which reaches to 26 billion U.S. dollars, was missed. MILITARY AGREEMENT IS INVALID FROM NOW ON After the United States limited its demands only with opening of air corridor, the military memorandum of understanding, determining the military cooperation between Turkey and the United States in Northern Iraq, lost validity. The concern appeared that there would be ''problem'' in entrance of Turkish army to Northern Iraq before reaching an official agreement with the United States. A high ranking official said, ''a verbal agreement was reached with the United States regarded with deployment of forces of the Turkish Armed Forces in Northern Iraq. However, there is a need for a new agreement for the operation elements of the units in the region. Turkish Armed Forces will either enter Northern Iraq following the signing of this agreement or enter urgently with the reason of refugee inflow, and approval will be made afterwards.'' AGREEMENT LEFT ''SUSPENDED' Attitude of the United States in giving up the idea to give six billion U.S. dollars created the concern that motion would be rejected again. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned, ''I don't want any crack voice''. The United States told Ankara, which prolonged the bargaining on the motion, that they only wanted Turkey to open air corridor. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who met with the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, briefed about his meeting with Powell in Council of Ministers meeting. Gul said he proposed two alternatives to Powell. ''We may either open air corridor or permit passage of a limited number of your soldiers from the land.'' Powell in response said time was running out and that air space was very important for them. He wanted Ankara to open air corridor and that they could solve the rest through talks. NO PERMISSION TO INCIRLIK BASE The request calling for authority regarded with sending of Turkish soldiers to Northern Iraq, and opening of Turkish air space to the United States, was sent to the Parliament toward midnight yesterday. Turkey decided to stop the flights from Incirlik Base to Northern Iraq in case the United States starts operation. The limited motion also excluded the economic support package from the agenda. The United States said the aid package was not valid from now on, but that aid to Turkey was not disregarded. Ankara said talks with Washington has not yet ended, and that a new motion could be prepared according to the developments. Did they stop us from using Incirlik completely or just for new operations? This point is confusing. IRAQIS FLEE TO NORTH OF COUNTRY NEAR TURKISH BORDER Thousands of Iraqis, especially ones from Kirkuk and the capital Baghdad, have fled to what is seen as safer regions in northern Iraq out of fear of imminent war. The migrants are establishing tent camps within some 70-80 kilometers of the Turkish border. Over the last two days, the number of Iraqis fleeing to regions under the control of the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) and the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) has reportedly reached 30,000. /Turkiye/ TURKISH JOURNALISTS SENT OUT OF IRAQI BORDER PROVINCE Turkish journalists working in Zaho, the closest Iraqi province to the border with Turkey, were sent out of the city yesterday by local military units. After detaining the journalists for some time, peshmergas from the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) sent them out of the city. Turkish reporters were then reportedly prohibited from re-entering Zaho or working in regions close to the Turkish border. |
| Posted by:Steve |