-Caveat Lector- http://www.turkishdailynews.com/FrTDN/latest/for.htm 12 April 2003
Exclusive interview with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister Turkey says EU membership process is on its way ITC calls for U.S.-Turkish committee to investigate Kirkuk events UN council deadlocks on Cyprus peace initiative Turkey reviews military readiness for possible operation Turcomans take to streets in Ankara and Istanbul Exclusive interview with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister Gul: Don't test Turkey's northern Iraq resolve The foreign minister stresses that Turkey explained to U.S. and Iraqi Kurds in 'clear terms' its concerns in northern Iraq and made clear that it would take any required action if pledges made to Ankara were not abided with Yusuf Kanli & Ilnur Cevik Turkey has strongly warned the United States and Iraqi Kurdish factions Friday that Ankara's northern Iraq resolve should not be tested. In an exclusive interview with the Turkish Daily News, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul stressed that Turkey was not yet satisfied with the actions taken by the United States following the occupation of Kirkuk by Iraqi Kurds in contravention to previous pledges made to Ankara. Gul said Turkey understands that because of the uncertainty brought about with the war, some developments may evolve out of control, but warned that "If these out of control developments could not be corrected or there is a disability to correct these, then we would not hesitate to undertake whatever we are required to do. Everyone knows this. The world knows this. And the people in northern Iraq know this better than anyone else." The foreign minister said Turkey was not a country which could be tested with fait accompli. "No one can stage a fait accompli for a country like Turkey. Everyone must know this. Everyone who might have the intention of making some gains by staging a fait accompli must know that no fait accompli may be staged against Turkey. Turkey shall definitely not allow such things," he said. Upset with the occupation of Kirkuk by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan peshmergas, Gul said Turkey was now following the developments and will "look at the end result." The PUK peshmergas were withdrawn from Kirkuk Friday but the news of the withdrawal coincided with reports Mousul was captured and a large group of peshmergas, together with a small contingent of U.S. troops, entered the city. Turkey has told the United States and Iraqi Kurds in talks over the past several months that if the cities were occupied by the peshmergas and if civilian movements towards the cities in a manner that could change the demographic situation was allowed, it would not hesitate from sending its troops into northern Iraq. Gul, talking with the TDN moments before he attended a key policy-making meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok on northern Iraq situation, did not rule out a possible incursion of the Turkish army into northern Iraq. "We will look whether there is compliance with the pledges made to Turkey or a fait accompli is wanted to be implemented within a span of time. For sure, we have plans and programs ready for any eventuality. These are issues unfolding on a daily and momentary basis. We are closely following the developments and let everybody know that when it is required we shall definitely not hesitate from taking any required decision. Right from the beginning we have said Inshallah, there won't be a need for such a decision and to take such a step, but if and when such a need arises, the moment we see the pledges and assurances made to Turkey were not serving any purpose, we shall evaluate the evolvement of the developments and won't hesitate from taking the appropriate decisions accordingly. There is no question on this," he said. Gul warned that withdrawal of peshmergas from the cities won't be enough, and underlined that any move aimed at changing the demography of the cities, would be unwelcome. "It is out of the question for Turkey to accept any planned move in the region aimed at changing the demography of the area. Everything must evolve in its natural course. An attempt to benefit from the atmosphere of disorder and confusion and to change the demography of the area with armed or unarmed population movements. We have said that we won't allow such moves and we are determined not to allow such moves. Everyone must know this. We shall not accept such moves with ulterior motives designed to serve some future aims," he warned. Gul also denied claims that the government has left some key decisions to the military. He said the political will was with the government and all through the Iraq war process, the military respected government decisions without any hesitation. "The political will is with the government. All institutions of the Turkish state are abiding without any hesitation with the political will expressed by the government. For sure, the government, in making those decisions has been in consultations with various bodies of the state. Of course in such kind of an atmosphere that we are in now, there could be nothing normal than the government consulting the military in making its decisions," he said. Gul added that "as it ought to be in any democratic country", everything has been progressing according to democratic principles. He said in this process, "I have seen the commitment of the military to democracy, respect to the decisions of the government. In consultations with them, they have laid down clearly with a great sense of responsibility their views, considerations and advise to the government." Here is the full text of the interview with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul: TDN - Despite all the pledges made to Turkey, now there is a fait accompli in northern Iraq. Turkey was greatly irritated with this development and, after talks with the United States, Ankara was told that American troops would be deployed in Kirkuk and other places in the region, Iraqi Kurdish peshmergas would be withdrawn from Kirkuk and a situation conforming with the established understanding would be created in the area. Is Turkey satisfied with this development? Is it satisfied with the new pledges it has received? Is Turkey considering, in any way, to send its troops into northern Iraq? GUL - All these largely depend on how the established understandings would be applied and what developments will take place. We cannot still say, "We are satisfied... Everything is all right." A process is working. We will follow the developments and look at the end results. We will look at whether there is compliance with the pledges made to Turkey or a fait accompli is wanted to be implemented within a span of time. For sure, we have plans and programs ready for any eventuality. These are issues unfolding on a daily and momentary basis. We are closely following the developments and will let everybody know that, when it is required, we shall definitely not hesitate from taking any required decision. Right from the beginning we have said Inshallah, there won't be a need for such a decision and to take such a step, but if and when such a need arises, the moment we see the pledges and assurances made to Turkey were not serving any purpose, we shall evaluate the evolvement of the developments and won't hesitate from taking the appropriate decisions accordingly. There is no question on this. TDN - With the occupation of Kirkuk, were the pledges to Turkey disrespected? GUL - This morning (yesterday), everything will become clear. TDN - Is there disillusionment in Ankara? GUL - One should not approach things in that fashion... One should also take into consideration the uncertainty brought about by the war atmosphere. Some things may evolve out of control but if these out of control developments could not be corrected or there is a disability to correct these, then we would not hesitate to undertake whatever we are required to do. Everyone knows this. The world knows this. And the people in northern Iraq know this better than anyone else. No one can stage a fait accompli for a country like Turkey. Everyone must know this. Everyone who might have the intention of making some gains by staging a fait accompli must know that no fait accompli may be staged against Turkey. Turkey shall definitely not allow such things. TDN - We are now talking about withdrawal of peshmergas and replacement of peshmergas by American troops but, in the meantime, there are reports of civilian Kurdish movement into the area. Kurds and even some Turkomans are reportedly evacuating their villages and heading into the area. There is an atmosphere of complete confusion, an atmosphere of chaos. Turkey was considering this as also unacceptable. Turkey was having such concerns anyhow. GUL - We are concerned of course. It is out of the question for Turkey to accept any planned move in the region aimed at changing the demography of the area. Everything must evolve in its natural course. An attempt to benefit from the atmosphere of disorder and confusion and to change the demography of the area with armed or unarmed population movements. We have said that we won't allow such moves and we are determined not to allow such moves. Everyone must know this. We shall not accept such moves with ulterior motives designed to serve some future aims. TDN - It is seen that in all cities Americans have entered there is an atmosphere of power-vacuum. This power-vacuum is being demonstrated best with the widespread looting incidents. If this power-vacuum is spread to cover northern Iraq also, is Turkey worried of a possible surge of clandestine Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist activity? Are you raising this issue with the Americans and asking them how they are going to deal with a possible surge in PKK terrorism at a time when they cannot control the ordinary man in the street? GUL - These all have been asked and were made clear that if and when we see any negative development in this area, we shall undertake whatever action is required. These and such issues have all been discussed in the past and our clear position was explained in clear terms. Therefore, our position and resolve on this issue must be known by all. TDN - In some reports there have been claims that the government has been talking about Turkey's sensitivity regarding a possible refugee movement, occupation of Kirkuk, Erbil and Mosul by Iraqi Kurdish factions but ignoring to mention terror in listing the possible Turkish entry into northern Iraq and some civilian and military top bureaucrats were unhappy with this. GUL - That's out of the question. That's our top priority. We have made it clear on and again on many occasions that such a development would never be allowed or tolerated. What's the meaning of that? Such a thing is out of the question. TDN - Again, within the same framework, there have been reports in some foreign media that the government was new, inexperienced and even incapable and thus was leaving some difficult decisions to the military. Is there full coordination with the military? GUL - Out of the question... All these are out of the question. These are products of their own exercises. It has become some sort of a fashion to talk of such things in order to criticize the government. The political will is with the government. All institutions of the Turkish state are abiding without any hesitation with the political will expressed by the government. For sure, the government, in making those decisions, has been in consultations with various bodies of the state. Of course in such kind of an atmosphere that we are in now, there could be nothing normal than the government consulting the military in making its decisions. TDN - Indeed in latest statements to the press by the military, it was underlined that political decision rested with the government... GUL - Throughout this process, as it ought to be in any democratic country, everything has been progressing according to democratic principles. I have seen this. Therefore, in this process, I have seen the commitment of the military to democracy and respect to the decisions of the government. In consultations with them, they have laid down clearly with a great sense of responsibility their views, considerations and advice to the government. TDN - In foreign reports, in reports of foreign news agencies, it is being reported that Turkey was scared that if Kurds get hold of the oil rich regions of Iraq they would become rich and acquire added strength that would enable them establish a Kurdish state. Is this the underlying reason of Turkey's concerns? GUL - To start with, we believe there is a consensus for the maintenance of the territorial and national integrity of Iraq and on the notion that the riches of the country belonged to the entire people of Iraq. We do not believe there will be a change in that. Of course, our concerns are not limited with these alone. We are concerned with the possibility of killings, looting and the danger of this reaching the dimension of massacre. This is very important. TDN - Defense of the Turkoman people there... GUL - That's what I am trying to stress. We cannot accept change of demographic composition of the region by force, establishment of a new situation by force, any move to scare Turkomans to migrate from the area and thus to change the demography of the region are not developments that we cannot allow. We have said all these... TDN - Under present conditions, do you intend to go ahead with the plans of visiting Syria? GUL - Well, it all depends to the developments. How things will evolve will shape it. If an emergency situation won't arise, or let me put it in more clear terms, if the issues at hand now could be resolved and placed on a right track, then I may go... But if the present situation continues, I may postpone. This will become clear soon. TDN - Turkey first invited the Iranian foreign minister to Ankara and now you are planning to go to Syria... These two countries were being accused by the United States of helping out Iraq. Most recently, the U.S. accused Syria of letting members of Iraqi leadership into the country and hide there. In view of this attitude of the U.S., don't you thing you are contradicting the U.S.? GUL - Let me provide a clarification on this. Our position on the Iraqi crisis is a very clear one. What is it? We have acted within the framework of a set of principles and we were with the U.S. The level of Turkish togetherness with the U.S. was determined by the Turkish Parliament. The Parliament converted a wide cooperation into a limited one. Therefore, our position on this issue is a very clear one. Our position towards the former regime of Iraq, or to the Saddam regime of Iraq, was known by everyone. Now, Syria and Iran are our two neighbors. Our relations with our neighbors, our bilateral relations are separate. There is no common approach of the three countries towards Iraq. Such a trilateral thing is out of the question. Each country has its own approach. These ties are bilateral, first of all; secondly, we are both neighboring countries of Iraq and it is only normal for us to come together on a bilateral basis and talk on the developments. But there is no trilateral platform, I want to underline this. The proposal and will extended to us was within that framework -- as you know there was such a mechanism and we were asked to revive that framework -- but we said we did not want to have such a platform but to continue dialogue on a bilateral basis. We found that more appropriate. Within that framework, the Iranian foreign minister came to Turkey and I was invited by the Syrian foreign minister to visit that country. There is nothing against the U.S. Or there is no move for the establishment of a trilateral Iraqi policy. TDN - The British are in contact with the Syrians also, but their going there aims at to help out the coalition and bridge to some extend the rift between the U.S. and Syria. Does Turkey have any such intention? GUL - Turkey could talk in this manner as well. It can express things that it considered right and can give friendly advice. TDN - Seeing the latest developments, when you look back, do you sometimes wish the second authorization motion accepted by Parliament? GUL - I do not think such an approach is right. I do not think it's right because we as the government have undertaken our responsibly within the framework of a policy built on what we considered right, and eventually sent to Parliament the authorization motion. Parliament accepted this in a different form. These are decisions taken by the institutions of Turkey. We have seen has democracy functioned. Thus, now indulging in considerations such as had this did not happen this would have been accomplished or so would be wrong. As the government, in accordance with the end result, we were obliged to take the most optimum stand and we have done that. We are not a journalist, a columnist who may write something one day and totally different thing the other day. If you look at the recent papers you would see that the banner headlines of even the same papers defended different positions on the same issue. You will see same columnists writing differently. But, people in administration think and devise policies and, if eventually those policies are adopted, they go ahead in that direction. If those policies were adopted in a different form, that they make evaluations in accordance with that approved form and proceed in conformity of that approved version. TDN - In the U.S. there are complaints that had Turkey allowed them open the northern front they would have entered Kirkuk and Mosul, not the peshmergas. GUL - Might be... But, the Turkish Grand National Assembly adopted that decision. In adopting that decision Parliament considered the pros and cons of the issue, found negative aspects more than the positive aspects and thus adopted such a decision. We, of course, as the government explained to Parliament all the alternatives, possibilities and put in front of the deputies in clear terms what might be the developments. We have explained to parliamentarians the issues that we are discussing today, in very clear terms. We have explained them the possibilities. Eventually, that was the Parliament decision and everyone must respect it. TDN - Well, if Turkey is asked, in view of that Parliament decision, does Turkey have the right to demonstrate its current reaction? GUL - Of course Turkey has the right. What has Turkey done after the Parliament decision? All these issues were covered in the memorandum of understanding. Did Turkey abandoned the U.S. or start to follow a policy against the U.S., or has it sided with Iraq? If you look at the region, Turkey has been the country which is in most intense cooperation with the U.S. TDN - The war is about to end but is it still clear amongst ourselves whether we are in or out the coalition? GUL - Then you will have to look at the statements of the U.S. and their list of coalition partners. You will see there that Turkey is a member of the coalition. This is not a list that we wrote. In that list, Turkey has a peculiar place. TDN - That is, we accept to be part of the coalition? GUL - One of the countries cooperating with the United States is Turkey. The decision of the Parliament to open Turkish airspace to the use of the Americans was an important move. Turkish airspace was not like the airspace of any European countries. Would opening of airspace of entire European countries mean anything if Turkey did not open its airspace? It would not. Therefore, a wider cooperation suggested by government was converted to a tighter cooperation by Parliament. Apart from that, for the past ten years, Turkey has been with the U.S. regarding the Iraq policy. Northern Watch was conducted from Turkish territory. Or Americans must know well the contributions of Turkey. But, they must understand also the reflection of the anti-war sentiment of over 95 percent of the Turks to Parliament. Turks did not want Turkey's active participation in the war. TDN - An ad-hoc committee was to be established for coordination between Turkey, U.S. and the Kurds. This committee could not be established. Does the failure of the establishment of that committee play a role in the developments in Kirkuk? Was not that committee designed to look after such incidents? GUL - That committee was to discuss and coordinate a possible entry of Turkish troops into northern Iraq in view of developments regarding refugees and terrorism. TDN - Not on the Kirkuk issue? GUL - No... TDN - There is an interesting situation at the United Nations Security Council on the Cyprus issue. There is a division among the permanent members. While the U.S. and Britain are supporting a resolution calling for a Cyprus settlement within the framework of the so-called Annan plan, China and Russia have been saying the plan was not accepted by the parties on the island and thus there should not be attribution to it or to any other plan in the Cyprus resolution. This is happening at the council on Cyprus for the first time. How do you evaluate this? GUL - With the Iraqi situation, the entire international community, all international bodies are divided. First of all the umbrella organization of the international community divided. Then the EU, NATO divided. Neighbors divided... Canada, Mexico and the United States, for example, adopted separate attitudes. Division in Europe has been a very deep one. This division once again surfaced. These are the realities that the world is facing today. The time is to get reorganized. This process has started and now many are saying "Whatever has happened, happened, now let's reorganize." There is an intense effort to that end. TDN - Although the entire world and all international bodies were divided in the wake of the war on Iraq, what is interesting is that on the issue of Cyprus, for the first time, permanent members of the Security Council have adopted different positions... GUL - Not only the Turkish Cypriot side, but Greek Cypriots also rejected the document presented by the U.N. secretary-general. The Turkish Cypriot side expressed clearly their opposition to the plan, while the Greek Cypriot side presented even a longer list of objections. But, because the Turkish Cypriot side declared its opposition, the blame of the failure of the plan was placed on Turkish Cypriots. This plan was not found acceptable by either side on the island and it has to be seen that the plan needed to be improved so that it could form the basis of talks. The U.N. has realized as well that this plan was unacceptable by either side. In the period ahead, there will be work on this document. TDN - At the Belgrade meeting Turkey proposed a five-party conference scheme for a settlement on Cyprus -- the two parties on Cyprus and three guarantor powers Turkey, Greece and Britain. Greece rejected this offer. Now, will Turkey support the U.N. framework for a Cyprus settlement, or continue suggesting this five-party scheme? GUL- The five-party mechanism could not be established at this point. We made that suggestion in demonstration of our goodwill to use every possible platform and means for a Cyprus resolution. We are of the opinion that all means must be tested. We made the proposal in that framework. But, we are committed to the U.N. framework also. TDN - After the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power, we have started hearing from Western diplomats and politicians that they have started hearing a "different voice" from Ankara. They were saying for the first time a Turkish government was "sincerely" talking about a Cyprus settlement, Turkey's European Union membership, full integration with the West. However, in recent times we have started hearing different voices complaining that the AKP has accommodated itself with the "established system" in Turkey. Has there been such a transformation in Turkey, are they misunderstanding Turkey now or were they misunderstanding you before? GUL - You have used the word transformation. There is a difference between transformation and revolution. Transformation is continuing. If we were expected to make sudden moves and changes without establishing consensus in the country, that would lead to discord, and that was wrong. But, there is no hesitation in our direction and determination. Therefore, we shall take necessary risks, shall not hesitate in expressing our political will when required, but in doing so, obviously, we shall take care of the sensitivities of a transition period. If we are to talking on Cyprus, we are clear on that: We want a settlement. If we are talking of Turkey's future, we want to place Turkey's EU membership in the EU on a path of no return. We want that not because of the EU, but because the Turkish nation deserves this. We consider this a persistent and continuous process. Our approach is not one to get prepared for a meeting and shelve everything once the meeting was over, starting to act again when a new meeting was approaching. This, for us, is a continuous process. Even while most important developments are unfolding, we are progressing on this process. For example, while we have the Iraqi crisis, we have legislated through Parliament two important democratization packages. Not only we are saying this, the Europeans as well are acknowledging this fact. Now, we are in the process of legislating a third democratization package. It will soon be dispatched to Parliament. It has become a fashion to make such accusations, such criticisms against ourselves. TDN - But you have taken to the fore Islamic reflexes in the recent period... GUL - Like what? TDN - Regarding Iraq, for example? GUL - Was the Republican People's Party acting with Islamic motives? Was the president acting with Islamic motives? There is a very wide division in Turkey over the issue. If you recall, when the second authorization motion was being debated in Parliament, the government undertook its responsibility, undertook the requirements of real politics, prepared the motion and dispatched it to Parliament. On an important issue over which there was division in the U.N., EU, NATO, all institutions, and against which there was strong public opposition, we knew that we would face some difficulties in Parliament. We warned our counterparts of this. Just look at Britain, a country that has an interest in the war or which has joined the war because of its interests, Prime Minister Tony Blair managed to get parliamentary approval only with the support of the opposition. Ministers quit from his Cabinet. Now, how can one forget all this and focus only on Turkey? Then evaluations would be incomplete. Of course the grassroots of our party played a role, the opposition to war by 90 plus percent of Turks played a role. It was inevitable that all those factors would be reflected in the outcome of Parliament decision. TDN - Were you considering an Iraq war inevitable with or without a northern front? GUL - Back in June, I said once the U.S. starts troop deployment in the region there won't be a return and war would become inevitable with or without Turkey allowing the northern front. I always believed that only Saddam Hussein could prevent the war. I sent messages, invited top Iraqi officials to Ankara and explained to them in clear terms what would be the outcome and told them that what's happening now would take place. TDN - Did you explain all this to your parliamentarians also? GUL - I explained in detail to our parliamentarians. I explained it three times to the opposition party and Parliament eventually decided. I explained to CHP leader Baykal in more detail than I explained to our deputies. Eventually, Parliament made its decision and tightened Turkey's contribution. That was not what the government wanted, but the Parliament decision must be respected. I fully respect the decision of Parliament. TDN - Thank you. Turkey says EU membership process is on its way The cooperation between Turkey and the EU is on its way and targeting Turkey's full membership to the EU said the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Friday dismissing claims in Turkish and European media that says certain European countries' are trying to hamper Turkey's EU membership. "At the EU Helsinki summit in 1991, both Turkey and the European Union confirmed that the partnership between them is aiming to reach full membership," said in the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. The mechanisms established between the two sides has worked until know said the statement and added, "There is nothing unexpected in the Accession Partnership Document issued by the EU Commission." Turkey has for many years been an applicant for EU membership, but has not yet been granted negotiations. However, EU leaders promised last December to open accession talks with Turkey if it meets the required political and economic criteria in a review set for December 2004. To meet these criteria, Turkey will have to undertake wide-ranging reforms, including steps to eradicate torture, and to foster media freedom. "The relations between Turkey and the EU should be evaluated according to the decisions taken on the formal platforms," said the statement. Ankara - Turkish Daily News ITC calls for U.S.-Turkish committee to investigate Kirkuk events Fatma Demirelli Iraqi Turkoman Front (ITC) called for swift establishment of a U.S.-Turkish military committee to investigate events in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk after Kurdish peshmergas entered the city and residents looted government offices, including the crucial land registry offices. At a press conference in Ankara, ITC's Mustafa Ziya said armed peshmergas from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) were still in the city, which is home to a sizable Turkoman population, despite an earlier pledge from PUK leader Jalal Talabani that they would withdraw by Friday morning. He said municipality buildings, government offices, military buildings, big hotels and a historical military barrack in the city, now used as a museum, that was built in the Ottoman era were set alight by Kurdish peshmergas. Ziya, who is responsible for international relations of the ITC, said the looting was a purposeful act meant to remove all official evidence proving Turkoman presence in the city. He said a committee comprising of Turkish and U.S. military officials should immediately start an investigation mission before further evidence is destroyed by Kurds. Entry of Kurdish peshmergas sent alarm waves to Ankara Thursday and, at the end of a series of phone calls, the United States and the PUK assured that the peshmergas would leave the city. Washington said it was sending more troops to northern Iraq and pledged that Kurdish forces would be removed from Kirkuk. Turkey has previously said a Kurdish administration in the oil-rich cities of Kirkuk and Mosul would be a "casus belli", a reason to launch war. Following assurances from the United States and the PUK, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said troop deployment in northern Iraq was not necessary at that moment. Ziya also said the ITC had unconfirmed reports that approximately 50 of the city's residents, including many Turkomans, had been executed and 11 Turkomans from the city had been arrested and taken to an unknown place. Turkey has also said that it would send troops to the region, in case ethnic clashes break out in the region between Kurds and Turkomans. Another reason for military intervention is mass Kurdish migration to Mosul and Kirkuk aimed at "changing the demographic structure" of the cities, the Turkish military has said. Ziya said previous pledges from the United States and Kurds that Kurdish forces would stay out of northern Iraq had not been kept and said Thursday's events in Kirkuk were caused by the lack of an effective mechanism to make sure that these promises would be upheld. Despite the ongoing looting, government offices attached to Iraq's energy ministry and oil resources in Kirkuk have not been touched by looters, said Hasan Ozmen, a member of te ITC's Executive Board, who attended the same conference. Ozmen said Kurds were prevented from doing so by U.S. forces. Ankara - Turkish Daily News UN council deadlocks on Cyprus peace initiative The secretary-general told reporters that he would not embark on any new initiative until he saw 'a genuine desire and change on the part of all the parties to want to settle this issue' Squabbling among U.N. Security Council major powers blocked an agreement on Thursday for a resolution intended to lay out a path for any future negotiations on reuniting divided Cyprus, council envoys said. The disagreement "reflects the climate of confrontation prevailing in the council as a result of the fallout from Iraq," said one envoy, speaking on condition of anonymity. While the United States and Britain backed a text designating a peace plan drafted by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan as the basis for any future talks, Russia and China insisted the resolution makes no mention of Annan's plan -- or any other, the envoys said. Annan tried to get both sides to agree to the reunification plan so that a united Cyprus could sign a treaty on April 16 to join the European Union next year, but the talks collapsed last month. The Turkish side announced that the negotiations should continue, also after April 16, taking the Annan plan as a basis. The Turkish government called on the Greek government to discuss the issue in a five-party meeting including guarantor states. Cyprus has been partitioned since 1974, when Turkey performed a military operation on the island after a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at union with Greece. Turkey keeps some 30,000 troops stationed in the east Mediterranean island's north. Last month's peace talks, the culmination of more than three years of U.N. diplomacy, foundered mainly on minority Turkish Cypriots' opposition to land and population movements they were asked to make in the deal proposed by Annan. After three days of talks, diplomats remained deadlocked but agreed to try again on Friday to come up with a draft text that all 15 council members could support, the envoys said. If an agreement were reached, a vote could come as early as Friday or perhaps early next week, they said. Greek, Turkish leaders meet Thursday's council negotiations on Cyprus came a day after Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his Greek counterpart Costas Simitis held their first face-to-face talks since the failure in March of U.N. attempts to broker a settlement. Simitis and Erdogan met on the sidelines of a meeting of southeast European countries in Belgrade, just a week before the Greek Cypriot Administration is due to sign a European Union accession treaty on April 16. The move could leave Turkish Cypriots isolated and undermine Turkey's own EU membership bid. An agreement is crucial for Turkey's EU aspirations as the Greek Cypriot part of the island will join the bloc in May 2004 -- with or without the Turkish Cypriot side. But Security Council diplomats said they detected no interest in launching new talks any time soon on the part of either the Turkish Cypriot or Greek Cypriot side. Annan had wanted the two sides to submit his plan to separate votes in each community on March 30, in time for a reunited Cyprus to enter the European Union. In a 40-page report on his bid to settle the long running Cypriot stalemate, Annan praised the Greek Cypriot contribution to the talks, and said Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) President Rauf Denktas "bears prime responsibility" for the failure of the effort launched in late 1999. The secretary-general told reporters Thursday that he would not embark on any new initiative until he saw "a genuine desire and change on the part of all the parties to want to settle this issue." Annan's special envoy, Alvaro de Soto, presented the report to the council on Thursday. He said a new initiative by the secretary-general would require the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders commit to finalizing the plan by a specific date without reopening debate on its key principles or key tradeoffs. Ankara - Compiled by TDN from wire dispatches Turkey reviews military readiness for possible operation Foreign Minister Gul cancels plans to travel to Syria this weekend, citing critical developments regarding northern Iraq and denying this has anything to do with the United States Fifteen liaison officers from Turkish special forces units in northern Iraq arrive in Kirkuk, Mosul and US army headquarters to watch Kurdish moves to critical northern Iraqi spots Turkey sent liaison teams to northern Iraq and reviewed its military's readiness for possible intervention in northern Iraq Friday, after Kurdish peshmerga move into the two key northern Iraqi cities of Mosul and Kirkuk rang alarm bells in Ankara. "In the light of new developments, we've reviewed the readiness of our troops, both in northern Iraq and along the border, and reinforcement plans," Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told reporters after a key meeting of top political, military leaders and intelligence officials Friday. He said there was no plan for immediate military action but sent a warning to Kurdish groups pouring into the two key cities saying Turkey was prepared for that. "If needed, we have every kind of plans, but for now we are not taking action. Our sensitivities are clear, any step back is out of question." Kurdish peshmerga fighters entered oil hub Kirkuk Thursday and Iraq's third largest city Mosul fell to advancing Kurdish forces, backed by U.S. troops, without fighting on Friday, sparking looting in both cities and causing alarm in Ankara. Turkey has repeatedly said that a Kurdish administration in the strategic cities or any move to change the demographic structure of the region through mass Kurdish migration would be thwarted by force. Gul said he had told the United States that Turkey was ready to assist U.S. forces in northern Iraq while they remove Kurdish forces from Mosul and Kirkuk or "do it on our own" should this prove to be necessary. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell assured Gul in a phone call Thursday that the U.S. forces would be in control of the two cities and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), whose fighters entered Kirkuk, pledged to withdraw by Friday. Gul said Kurdish forces were leaving Kirkuk and would start withdrawing from Mosul as soon as possible. U.S. troops started securing the airport and oil-fields in and around Kirkuk on Friday as Kurdish "peshmerga" fighters prepared to leave the city. Chief of Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok told a parliamentary committee Friday that the arrival of U.S. forces in northern Iraq helped Turkey breath a sigh of relief and emphasized there was no step back from Turkey's concerns regarding northern Iraq. Ozkok also said the army and the government were working harmoniously, "like an orchestra", in northern Iraq. Iraqi Kurdish leaders have said they will resist any Turkish military moves and Washington fears that Turkish intervention could undermine its war efforts in the north by provoking Turkish-Iraqi Kurd clashes. Turkey has thousands of troops deployed in northern Iraq. Tens of thousands of troops reinforced by tanks, self-propelled howitzers and armored personnel carriers have long been deployed along the border. Private NTV television said three liaison teams, each including five special forces officers who were already in the region, will serve in Kirkuk, Mosul and at U.S. headquarters in the area. Turkey is also concerned over the looting of the title deed and registry offices in northern Iraq, saying the move could be aimed at destroying evidence for the presence of Turkoman, ethnically tied to Turks, in the region. "Attempts to change the (demographic) structure of those places are unacceptable," Gul said. "We want an end to chaos and instability as soon as possible." Controversial visit cancelled Gul also said he cancelled a weekend visit to Syria, saying his stay in Ankara was necessary at a time when developments regarding northern Iraq were critical. Syria has recently been accused by the United States of assisting Iraq, backing international terrorism, seeking weapons of mass destruction and offering safe haven for Iraqi leaders fleeing Baghdad. Last weekend, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi visited Ankara and held talks with Turkish leaders and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara has called for a regional consultation mechanism between Turkey, Syria and Iran on Iraq. Gul's plans to travel to Damascus have been subject to criticisms, saying such a visit could mean a further blow to ties with the United States. Gul said cancellation of the Damascus visit had nothing to do with the United States. Turkey poised to help Iraqis Gul also announced that Turkey was drawing plans for helping Iraqi civilians wounded during the U.S.-led war in this country. He said wounded civilians would be brought to Turkish hospitals for treatment as soon as damaged airports in Iraq were repaired. He added some 500 trucks loaded with U.N. humanitarian aid materials have crossed the Turkish border to Iraq. Ankara - Turkish Daily News Turcomans take to streets in Ankara and Istanbul Turcomans, defending that 3 million Turcoman face danger and genocide, want the Turkish army to pull the Kurdish peshmergas out of Mosul and Kirkuk Hundreds of Turcomans took to the streets in Turkey on Friday to protest against the Kurdish peshmerga rush to the northern Iraqi cities Mosul and Kirkuk, wanting the Turkish army to pull them out. Kurdish peshmergas entered Kirkuk, smashed into government offices and looted whatever they could carry on Thursday. Kirkuk is considered a Turcoman city originally and hosts more than 500,000 Turcomans, almost half of the population. Peshmerga forces of northern Iraqi Kurdish groups also entered Mosul early Friday and these attempts fueled the protests in Turkey. Speaking at the demonstration in Ankara's Kugulu Park, Ankara Representative of the Turcoman Front Ahmet Muratli said that almost 100 Turcoman died in the recent developments. Hundreds of Turcomans backing Turkish military intervention into northern Iraq also raised tensions at a demonstration in Istanbul, walking and shouting slogans on the way to Taksim Square from Galatasaray. Angry protestors walked together with a nationalist group and shouted slogans like "Kirkuk is Turk and it will continue to be Turk", "Turkey, protect Turcomans" and "Army, go to Kirkuk". Carrying Turkish and Turkoman flags, the group laid a wreath with the statement "Ataturk, your testament is violated" at the Taksim Republic Monument. Turcomans defend that three million Turcoman face danger and genocide, adding they want measures to be taken urgently. Turkey had announced that it received some assurances from the U.S. on the prevention of Kurdish groups entering Mosul and Kirkuk. On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul called U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell asking that they pull the peshmergas out, adding that if they did not, Turkey would do. Though it supports the Iraq war, Turkey fears conflict in northern Iraq could spark unrest among its Kurdish minority and the return of hundreds of armed Kurdistan Workers Party terrorists, presently holed up in the mountains of northern Iraq. Iraqi Kurdish leaders, who control an enclave in northern Iraq, have supported the U.S.-led war to topple Saddam Hussein. Ankara/Istanbul - Turkish Daily News Forwarded for your information. 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