TURKEY: U.S.SECRETARY OF STATE, COLIN POWELL MEETS FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH GUL IN ANKARA FOR TALKS ON IRAQI CRISIS, GREETED BY DEMONSTRATIONS.

Record ID: 645889

  • Title: TURKEY: U.S.SECRETARY OF STATE, COLIN POWELL MEETS FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH GUL IN ANKARA FOR TALKS ON IRAQI CRISIS, GREETED BY DEMONSTRATIONS.
  • Date: 2nd April 2003
  • Summary: (W5) ANKARA, TURKEY (APRIL 2, 2003) (REUTERS) WS: OF POWELL AND GUL ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE. MV: MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL SAYING: "The minister and I discussed areas of co-operation and other needs we have now to sustain the forces, coalition forces that are operating in northern Iraq and we have solved all outstanding issues with respect to providing supplies through Turkey to those units that are doing such wonderful jobs in northern Iraq to keep the situation in northern Iraq stable. As the minister noted, we also agreed on means by which we can expedite the provision of humanitarian aid in northern Iraq, and the construction aid into northern Iraq." MV: MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA. MV: SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL (WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAH GUL) SAYING: "We are monitoring the situation closely. We have it under control and therefore at the moment there is no need for any movement of Turkish forces across the border. We have agreed today that we will rapidly form a co-ordination committee so that we can monitor this closely and we'll also develop ways in the next several days to ensure we understand how we'll respond to a problem that might arise in northern Iraq that might affect Turkish interest." SCU: US OFFICIALS MV/ZOOM IN SCU POWELL: SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL (WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ABDULLAD GUL) SAYING: "With respect, to the kind of support we're getting, our principal discussion today had to with supplies: food, fuel, other kinds of supplies that might go in. Once we are able to set up our forces in northern Iraq then some of the issues with respect to search and rescue will be dealt with because it can be handled out of northern Iraq. On other matters, I know that the Turkish Government will always act in a humanitarian way with respect to anybody who might be in distress at particular time." MV: MORE OF MEDIA: MV: POWELL AND GUL SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 17th April 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ANKARA AND ISTANBUL, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEHXG3IHUXXE52JRBR4R0EUOMR
  • Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has held meetings with Turkey's President and Prime Minister in Ankara while around 200 people gathered in front the U.S. consulate in Istanbul to protest war in Iraq and Powell's arrival. At a news conference following the meetings, Powell said he had agreed with ally Turkey on proposals to ship supplies over Turkish territory to U.S. forces fighting in northern Iraq.
    U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday (April 2) that he had agreed with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-ally Turkey on proposals to ship supplies over Turkish territory to U.S. forces fighting in northern Iraq.
    Powell repeated that Washington was disappointed by Turkey's refusal to allow some 62,000 troops to invade Iraq from its territory -- an operation military experts say could have shortened the war and reduced U.S. casualties. But he said Washington was now looking for help in supplying its forces there, estimated at a few thousand lightly-armed men.
    "The minister and I discussed areas of co-operation and other needs we have now to sustain the forces, coalition forces that are operating in northern Iraq and we have solved all outstanding issues with respect to providing supplies through Turkey to those units that are doing such wonderful jobs in northern Iraq to keep the situation in northern Iraq stable. As the minister noted, we also agreed on means by which we can expedite the provision of humanitarian aid in northern Iraq, and the construction aid into northern Iraq,"
    Powell said at a news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
    Powell, visiting Turkey to repair damage to relations wrought by Ankara's refusal to allow U.S. troops to attack Iraq from Turkey, said U.S. troops airlifted into Kurdish northern Iraq had stabilised the situation there. He also said he saw no cause for Turkey to send its troops into the region.
    "We are monitoring the situation closely. We have it under control and therefore at the moment there is no need for any movement of Turkish forces across the border. We have agreed today that we will rapidly form a co-ordination committee so that we can monitor this closely and we'll also develop ways in the next several days to ensure we understand how we'll respond to a problem that might arise in northern Iraq that might affect Turkish interest," Powell said.
    Gul referred to supplies of food and fuel. It was not clear if there would be further requests for passage of vehicles, munitions or other equipment.
    "With respect, to the kind of support we're getting, our principal discussion today had to with supplies: food, fuel, other kinds of supplies that might go in. Once we are able to setup our forces in northern Iraq then some of the issues with respect to search and rescue will be dealt with because it can be handled out of northern Iraq. On other matters, I know that the Turkish Government will always act in a humanitarian way with respect to anybody who might be in distress at particular time," Powell said.
    The United States fears any fresh deployment of Turkish troops could lead to conflict with local Kurdish groups and disrupt the U.S. war effort.
    The issue was central to Powell's talks in Ankara.
    Turkish opposition to the war is strong and the ruling Justice and Development Party could face another parliamentary rebellion if it tried to win authority from the assembly.
    In Istanbul, some 200 people protested Powell's visit - chanting slogans like "Powell go home" and "No to war in Iraq"
    in front of the United States consulate.
    Organised by the group "No to a war in Iraq," the group chanted slogans and made statements before leaving the demonstration peacefully.
    Another group had gathered early in the morning in Ankara in front of the Prime Ministry, where Powell held his meetings, to protest the war in Iraq and the arrival of U.S.
    secretary of State.
    Public opinion in Turkey is widely against the war and Ankara's parliament denied permission for up to 62,000 U.S.
    troops to use Turkish territory before the war began on March 20.
    GULF WAR 3
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