> http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/i/AP-Turkey-Iraq.html > By The Associated Press, January 12, 1999 > ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Fearing renewed U.S.-Anglo attacks on > Iraq,Turkey's new > prime minister made it clear on Tuesday he would not allow Turkish > basesto be > used for any prolonged bombing of Iraq. > In rare critical statements on U.S. policy, leftist leader Bulent Ecevit > charged that Washington officials could not make up their minds on howto > deal > with Baghdad. The United States and Britain have used their > planesstationed > at the Incirlik air base in south Turkey to enforce a ``no-fly'' zone in > northern Iraq since the end of the 1990-1991 Gulf War. > But the allies must seek Turkey's permission to use the planes for > anyother > sort of strikes against Iraq. > In the past Turkey has shown itself unwilling to grant permission -- > butit has > never openly openly ruled out allowing such use of the base in order > notto > offend its allies. > But Ecevit, in an interview with private NTV television, came closerthan > his > predecessors ever have to doing so. > ``There will be no change in the Incirlik status'' as a base > forpatrolling the > ``no-fly'' zone, he said. He then launched into a vocal criticism ofU.S. > policy towards Iraq rarely heard from Turkish leaders. > ``I am worried that air raids will increase after the end of > Ramadan,''Ecevit > said, referring to the Muslim holy month which ends on the sighting > ofthe > crescent moon, due in a few days. > ``I think the United States does not have any decision regarding thekind > of > solution they want to see in Iraq,'' he said. > ``While I hope Iraq will be in more accordance with the world, I > alsohope that > the United States will produce peaceful solutions,'' he said. > Washington and London did not use the planes from Incirlik > duringairstrikes > last month. They avoided asking Turkey permission because they knew > theywould > be turned down, analysts say. > While patrolling the ``no-fly'' zone, U.S. fighters from the base fired > missiles at Iraqi radar sites three times this week. The United > Statessaid the > radar sites had targeted the planes. > ``This is the excuse they are using,'' Ecevit said, adding that > Turkeywas > trying to check the U.S. accounts of the confrontations. > Ecevit has in the past objected to U.S. attacks on Iraq and has > visitedBaghdad > to hold meetings with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. > International policies on Iraq have become increasingly unpopular > inTurkey, > which says it has suffered politically and lost some $30 million intrade > due > to sanctions on Iraq. > Presenting his government program on Tuesday, the veteran leftist > Ecevitsaid > he would ``give importance to strengthening relations'' with Washington. > Ties to the United States were strained during Ecevit's first stint > asprime > minister in the 1970s. It was his administration that ordered the > 1974invasion > of Cyprus, which led to a four-year U.S. embargo on military sales > andmilitary > aid. A strongly pro-secular politician, Ecevit returned to power Monday > afterthe > previous government collapsed in a corruption scandal. > He promised to uphold pro-secular policies against challenges > fromIslamic > political forces and ``accelerate'' economic integration with > thebreakaway > Turkish Cypriot state. > He also said that Turkey would pursue a goal for European > Unionmembership, but > would not yield to any pressures from the 15-nation group. > The European Union wants Turkey to improve its troubled human > rightsrecord and > improve its economy, hampered by chronic high inflation. > Ecevit's government is expected to remain in power only until > electionsApril18.
3. Turkey PM Bashes US Policy on Iraq http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/i/AP-Turkey-Iraq.html By The Associated Press, January 12, 1999 ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Fearing renewed U.S.-Anglo attacks on Iraq,Turkey's new prime minister made it clear on Tuesday he would not allow Turkish basesto be used for any prolonged bombing of Iraq. In rare critical statements on U.S. policy, leftist leader Bulent Ecevit charged that Washington officials could not make up their minds on howto deal with Baghdad. The United States and Britain have used their planesstationed at the Incirlik air base in south Turkey to enforce a ``no-fly'' zone in northern Iraq since the end of the 1990-1991 Gulf War. But the allies must seek Turkey's permission to use the planes for anyother sort of strikes against Iraq. In the past Turkey has shown itself unwilling to grant permission -- butit has never openly openly ruled out allowing such use of the base in order notto offend its allies. But Ecevit, in an interview with private NTV television, came closerthan his predecessors ever have to doing so. ``There will be no change in the Incirlik status'' as a base forpatrolling the ``no-fly'' zone, he said. He then launched into a vocal criticism ofU.S. policy towards Iraq rarely heard from Turkish leaders. ``I am worried that air raids will increase after the end of Ramadan,''Ecevit said, referring to the Muslim holy month which ends on the sighting ofthe crescent moon, due in a few days. ``I think the United States does not have any decision regarding thekind of solution they want to see in Iraq,'' he said. ``While I hope Iraq will be in more accordance with the world, I alsohope that the United States will produce peaceful solutions,'' he said. Washington and London did not use the planes from Incirlik duringairstrikes last month. They avoided asking Turkey permission because they knew theywould be turned down, analysts say. While patrolling the ``no-fly'' zone, U.S. fighters from the base fired missiles at Iraqi radar sites three times this week. The United Statessaid the radar sites had targeted the planes. ``This is the excuse they are using,'' Ecevit said, adding that Turkeywas trying to check the U.S. accounts of the confrontations. Ecevit has in the past objected to U.S. attacks on Iraq and has visitedBaghdad to hold meetings with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. International policies on Iraq have become increasingly unpopular inTurkey, which says it has suffered politically and lost some $30 million intrade due to sanctions on Iraq. Presenting his government program on Tuesday, the veteran leftist Ecevitsaid he would ``give importance to strengthening relations'' with Washington. Ties to the United States were strained during Ecevit's first stint asprime minister in the 1970s. It was his administration that ordered the 1974invasion of Cyprus, which led to a four-year U.S. embargo on military sales andmilitary aid. A strongly pro-secular politician, Ecevit returned to power Monday afterthe previous government collapsed in a corruption scandal. He promised to uphold pro-secular policies against challenges fromIslamic political forces and ``accelerate'' economic integration with thebreakaway Turkish Cypriot state. He also said that Turkey would pursue a goal for European Unionmembership, but would not yield to any pressures from the 15-nation group. The European Union wants Turkey to improve its troubled human rightsrecord and improve its economy, hampered by chronic high inflation. Ecevit's government is expected to remain in power only until electionsApril18. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
