TURKEY: TURKEY'S GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED IT WAS CONSIDERING A SECOND TRY AT WINNING APPROVAL FOR U.S. TROOPS TO BE BASED IN TURKEY
Record ID:
645782
TURKEY: TURKEY'S GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED IT WAS CONSIDERING A SECOND TRY AT WINNING APPROVAL FOR U.S. TROOPS TO BE BASED IN TURKEY
- Title: TURKEY: TURKEY'S GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED IT WAS CONSIDERING A SECOND TRY AT WINNING APPROVAL FOR U.S. TROOPS TO BE BASED IN TURKEY
- Date: 4th March 2003
- Summary: (EUROPE) ANKARA, TURKEY (MARCH 4, 2003) (REUTERS) SLV ARRIVAL OF TURKISH PRIME MINISTER ABDULLAH GUL AT NEWS CONFERENCE MCU MEMEBERS OF PRESS MCU (Turkish) ABDULLAH GUL, TURKISH PRIME MINSTER SAYING: "As the party in power, our party has been evaluating the situation. For the last two days, our government evaluates it. The process is going on in a mutual understanding. The United States and Turkey are allies in a strategical way, that is why we understand each others worries, the situation we are in. In a very sincere way, the American government said in their statement they respect the parliament's decision." SV NEWS CONFERENCE MCU (Turkish) GUL SAYING: "We are in touch all the time, two country allies, our relations continue on each subject, that is why there is no such thing like the relations are over. But the decision of the Turkish parliament is obvious." SV MEDIA/GUL LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE (2 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 19th March 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ANKARA, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Reuters ID: LVA9803QWLELTTUQH67D6B3GSM76
- Story Text: Turkey's government has indicated it was considering a second try at winning approval for U.S. troops to be based there but hinted it wants promises the United States will rein-in Iraqi Kurds before any vote can pass.
Washington will have to rush to find a balance between the conflicting hopes of Turks and Kurds in northern Iraq. The demands of military planning mean time is short.
Turkey threw those war timetables into turmoil and sowed deep uncertainty over the future of neighbouring Kurdish northern Iraq on Saturday (March 1) when parliament rejected an urgent U.S. request to allow 62,000 troops to use Turkey as a launchpad to open a northern front against Iraq.
On his way to Qatar to take part at the Islamic Conference Organisation on Tuesday (March 4), Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that his party's attempt at a another motion was being mooted.
"As the party in power, our party has been evaluating the situation. For the last two days, our government evaluates it.
The process is going on in a mutual understanding. The United States and Turkey are allies in a strategical way, that is why we understand each others worries, the situation we are in,"
said Gul.
The Prime Minister said also that the United States have respected the Turkish Parliament's decision without it necessarily damaging relations at this point.
"We are in touch all the time, two country allies, our relations continue on each subject, that is why there is no such thing like the relations are over. But the decision of the Turkish parliament is obvious," said Gul.
The U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Robert Pearson, warned that a multi-billion dollar aid package to shield the weak Turkish economy against the shock of any Iraq war could be scrapped after parliament voted against allowing U.S. troops in.
"Well without the agreement there is no financial package.
One of our original purposes was that financial package could be of assistance to the Turkish economy during the time of stress and that was the reason why we proposed it," said Pearson after talks with Prime Minister Abdullah Gul in the capital.
Financial markets plunged after Turkish lawmakers at the weekend narrowly voted down the motion to open military facilities to some 62,000 U.S. soldiers. Investors fear Turkey could now face a war in neighbour Iraq without U.S. support worth up to $30 billion in grants and loan guarantees.
The parliament's stunning vote against the motion threatens to undermine the Bush administrations military planning against Baghdad. Ten U.S. warships laden with equipment for 30,000 troops are presently waiting off Turkey's Mediterranean coast.
Asked whether Washington wanted parliament to vote on a second motion, Pearson said they had hopes and he would brief Washington after learning Gul's best perspective on what lies ahead.
"I reaffirmed the solidity of the Turkish-American friendship and Turkish American relations, but we also recognise we have important issues to work on. We will continue to work on those and from the perspective of the United States we want those to reach successful conclusions and in doing so we will be receiving and working on the basis of the advice that Turkey has given," Pearson said.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) may prefer to present the motion after the U.N. Security Council approves any second resolution sanctioning possible military action against Baghdad. Such a decision, if taken, could be at least two weeks away.
The United States, aware a U.N. resolution might never actually pass, may not be prepared to wait that long and could abandon Turkey and ship troops and equipment instead to the Gulf where an invasion force is gathering. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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