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http://www.turkishdailynews.com/FrTDN/latest/for.htm#f9 Turkish Daily News October 17, 2002 -PM Ecevit: 'We know that the US cannot carry out this operation (Iraq) without us. That is why we are advising that it abandon the idea. We are telling (Washington) that we are worried over this matter' -"We are the strongest country of the Middle East," he told the NTV television late on Tuesday. "It is essential that Turkey acts as the sentinel of the region." -Washington would look to Ankara for use of its air space and bases if it chose to attack Baghdad in a bid to oust President Saddam Hussein. Izgi: Turkey will protect Mousol, Kirkuk and Suleymania in the case of danger Parliament speaker and deputy speaker indicate that Parliament may decide to send troops to Northern Iraq in order to protect Mousol, Kirkuk and Suleymania and this will not be an invasion -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Turkish Parliament speaker Omer Izgi stated that Turkey may send troops to protect Mousol, Kirkuk and Suleymania and said: "Turkey will definitely not be an invader there. All Arabs must know this." "There is no operation in Northern Iraq and there will be no operation. Turkey had this issue on the agenda after sept. 11 and decided how to act in case of various developments." he said during his visit to Konya. Izgi mentioned Turkey's "casus belli" about the establishment of a Kurdish State and said: "Turkey will not allow a Kurdish state to be established. Turkey would be involved in Mousol, Kirkuk and Suleymania. We will prevent a Kurdish state from being established considering that it will have rich oil sources and that they might attack Turkey." Parliament deputy speaker Murat Sokmenoglu, declared that Parliament is going to make a decision on the Iraq issue when necessary. "If the conditions in Northern Iraq requires Parliament to gather then Parliament may make a decision on both sending troops as well as deploying foreign troops in Turkey," Sokmenoglu said during his visit to Istanbul. Asked by reporters whether Parliament may take a decision Sokmenoglu said that it is not on the agenda but, "If the conditions require Parliament to gather and make a decision on both sending troops as well as deploying foreign troops in Turkey," Sokmenoglu said. Sokmenoglu mentioned that Turkey is in favor of Iraqi territorial integrity. Kirkuk is a Turkoman city. Turkey will not accept a 'fait accompli' on Kirkuk. "Attempts to open a second gate drove Kurdistan Democratic party (KDP) leader Mesoud Barzani crazy. Spoilt Kurds like spoilt Greeks get U.S. support and have spoilt manners. They want to provoke us," Sokmenoglu said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foreign Ministry: Developments in Northern Iraq under Turkey's control `The commitments given to us regarding Iraq and Northern Iraq are still valid' 'We wish the conditions do not make such an intervention necessary for us' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that the developments in Northern Iraq are under Turkey's control and Barzani's statements are not serving to their own interests. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yusuf Buluc evaluating the latest developments in Northern Iraq said the developments in Northern Iraq are under Turkey's control adding, "The commitments given to us are still valid," in the weekly press conference. Responding to a question, "There are claims that Turkey may intervene in the region before the U.S., is this possible?" Buluc said, "We wish the conditions do not make such an intervention necessary for us." Buluc also stated: "This is not the time for polemic. This is the time for being calm and making realistic evaluations, and we should avoid steps which may pave the way to deeper instabilities in the region." Evaluating the statements of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani, Buluc said, "If the aim of these statements are to make Turkey angry or maybe threaten Turkey or Turkish people who make contributions to the well-being of the Kurdish community in Northern Iraq, it is wrong and is not serving for their best interests." Responding to a question, Buluc indicated: "We don't agree with the evaluations saying that developments in Northern Iraq are out of Turkey's control. We have seen in our contacts with the U.S. officials at every level that the political targets of both countries in Iraq both regarding the territorial integrity of Iraq and Northern Iraq are same." Buluc stated the commitments given to us regarding Iraq and Northern Iraq are still valid and added the important thing is that the regulations in the region should be temporary. It is natural that a formation is necessary for the people living together in order to meet their needs. Turkey supported this type of formation and made it easy ensuring a security umbrella around the region. But these regulations should be temporary, this is important for us. The representatives of factions in northern Iraq did not make any statements which may be evaluated as contrary to Turkey's expectations." Buluc responding to a question on the U.S. Central Command chief General Tommy Franks's visit, said Turkish General Staff officials did not give any information to the Foreign ministry on the issue. Buluc also evaluated the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's letter which was read in the opening of the regional Parliament in northern Iraq said: "We have seen the letter. There is nothing wrong in the letter for us." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pearson says northern Iraq can't be left to Kurds alone Pearson: 'No single group can determine without regard for others the future of its own role in Iraq nor that of the other elements in Iraq. The United States has not endorsed any document professing to be a constitution for any group in Iraq' PM Ecevit: 'We know that the US cannot carry out this operation (Iraq) without us. That is why we are advising that it abandon the idea. We are telling (Washington) that we are worried over this matter' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The U.S. ambassador in Ankara attempted to ease Turkey's concerns over the fate of Iraq's northern part Wednesday, implying control of the region will not be left to Kurds alone. Two main Kurdish groups in northern Iraq have been discussing a draft constitution for the region that has been under their de facto control since the Gulf War of 1991, escalating Ankara's fears for the establishment of a Kurdish state just next to its southern borders and prompting Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to say Turkey was drifting into a war against its wishes. "No single group can determine without regard for others the future of its own role in Iraq nor that of the other elements in Iraq. The United States has not requested or endorsed any document professing to be a constitution for any group in Iraq. And neither we nor any other country has the authority to do such a thing," said the Ambassador Mark Pearson at a conference hosted by the Ankara-based Center for Eurasian Strategic Studies (ASAM). Pearson's remarks came a day after Ecevit said Turkey was advising the United States not to attack Iraq, because this would seriously harm both its economy and result in huge casualties among its young population. "We are the strongest country of the Middle East," he told the NTV television late on Tuesday. "It is essential that Turkey acts as the sentinel of the region." "We know that the U.S. cannot carry out this operation (Iraq) without us," he said. "That is why we are advising that it abandon the idea. We are telling (Washington) that we are worried over this matter." Pearson, on the other hand, warned of the threat posed to Turkey by Iraq. He said Iraq had missiles that could reach its neighbors' territory and chemical weapons. "There is credible evidence of a biological weapons threat. Iraq has nuclear ambitions. Many people, in fact most people, privately admit how much better it would be if there were new leaders in Iraq. Many Turks know this and say this. Turkey has suffered because Iraq for 10 years has given contracts to try to buy influence with states outside the region. Baghdad was ready always to sacrifice its own citizens and its neighbors' economies to escape its U.N. obligations. For a decade, Iraq has squandered resources that should have built a better economic future, including with Turkey. If Baghdad ever actually cared about Turkey, it would have disarmed years ago, and here in Turkey now you would be far better off," he said. The ambassador reiterated that the United States categorically opposed any separate state in northern Iraq and that the oil fields, concentrated in northern Iraq's Kirkuk city, should be controlled by the central government of Iraq. In addition to its rich oil reserves, Kirkuk is of importance for Turkey because it is a host to a sizable Turkoman community, with whom Turkey enjoys ethnic ties. The U.S. ambassador said Turkoman participation would be sought in determining the political fate of Iraq and blamed the Iraqi administration for most of the hardships faced by Turkomans in Iraq, as a majority of Turkomans are living in the Saddam Hussein-controlled part of Iraq. "The future political structure of Iraq awaits the day when all of Iraq's people are able to participate as citizens of a single country in determining its future. "All" means the Turkomens, of course, as well as the Shiites, and the many other groups seeking to create a more democratic peaceful Iraq." Pearson also said the United States was keeping Turkey informed about its stance, in response to criticisms in Turkey that the Turkish government had no good insight into U.S. plans on Iraq. In meetings with Turkey in August and September, the U.S. fully apprised Turkey of its views regarding Iraq, he said and went on to list other gatherings during which the U.S. brought Turkey "fully up to date on our thinking." "Turkey's government, of course, has made and will make its own decisions about how to best address Turkey's national, regional and international interests. The U.S. fully respects Turkey's choices, because we know they can be difficult." Washington would look to Ankara for use of its air space and bases if it chose to attack Baghdad in a bid to oust President Saddam Hussein. Diplomats say that although the main thrust of any U.S. or coalition attack would come from the south rather than Turkey in the north, the United States would need to tightly control northern Iraq to spread the threat to Saddam's forces and deny them refuge. Turkey would probably ultimately need to co-operate in such an operation to protect its own interests and prevent chaos on its own frontiers. The option of "staying out" might be a perilous one for Ankara. The final decision, however, would be taken largely by the powerful Turkish General Staff in co-operation with the country's civilian leader. Ecevit, after the November 3, polls is unlikely to be prime minister, his Democratic Left Party trailing well short of the 10 percent hurdle to enter Parliament. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? 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