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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/03/20/nafg220.xml&sSheet=/news/2002/03/20/ixnewstop.html Daily Telegraph March 20, 2002 Turks urged to take control of peace force By Amberin Zaman in Ankara THE US Vice-President, Dick Cheney, was locked in talks with Turkish leaders last night to try to persuade Ankara to take over command of the British-led international peace-keeping force in Afghanistan. Turkey's semi-official Anatolian news agency reported that Turkish, British and US officials were close to finalising a deal, but private news channels quoting Turkish diplomatic sources claimed that Turkey had decided against taking charge of the international peace-keeping force. The private NTV news channel said that Turkey was offering instead to provide "logistical support" for the peace-keeping operation. The talks have been continuing for a week in an attempt to strike an agreement for Turkey to assume command of the force, known as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), from Britain. The British term expires in mid-April. Mr Cheney, who is also expected to seek Turkish support for possible military intervention in Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein, arrived in Ankara on the last leg of an 11-nation tour aimed at drumming up such support among the US's Western and Arab allies. Turkey's chief condition according to Western diplomats close to the talks is that Ankara should not be saddled with finding a successor to command the force when its own term expires. After volunteering to take charge of the force in an attempt to enhance its international prestige and strategic value to its Western allies, Turkey has been in recent weeks stalling on a final decision. Turkey's mounting reticence and demands for a series of watertight guarantees if it is to take charge have triggered fears within the British government that its own troops will be forced to remain in Afghanistan beyond the end of April deadline if a deal is not reached. The Bush administration is equally keen to see the Turks on board as the presence of Muslim troops will help curb accusations that America's war against global terrorism is directed against Islam. Last month Turkey's Left-wing prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, told Tony Blair that he wanted to be assured of the participation of other countries, namely Nato troops, in ISAF. This reflects Ankara's growing concern over Afghanistan's own reservations about having the Turks in charge. Pathans, who are the majority group in Afghanistan, are said to be opposed to an expanded Turkish presence because of Turkey's close ties to the Uzbek warlord, Rashid Dostum. There are currently some 260 Turkish troops in Afghanistan, who carry out security patrols and humanitarian aid. Turkey insists that ISAF can be effective only if its mandate is extended beyond Kabul, not least so as to keep Afghan warlords outside the capital from sabotaging its efforts. It is therefore pressing for guarantees of sufficient manpower and equipment to ensure the mission's success. Another concern is that Turkey be guaranteed access to all intelligence gathered by the US and Allied forces on the ground and that the command structure of the force be unequivocally clear. Last but not least, Turkey wants foreign governments to help with the estimated �43 million cost of increasing its presence by a further 1,000 troops as foreseen under the proposed mandate. Senior British, American and French generals in Kabul also believe that alongside creating a new Afghan national army, ISAF needs to be urgently expanded to other cities in Afghanistan. Even though the majority of Afghans want an expanded ISAF, Western governments have so far failed to agree to do so or fund the creation of a new national Afghan army. "The issue of security is the highest priority facing the international community and the Afghan interim government," said Major General Sir John McColl, the head of ISAF. "There is a huge demand by the Afghans to expand ISAF to other cities, but that is a matter for the international community to discuss and decide. It's not for a soldier to decide." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - live college hoops coverage http://sports.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
