TURKEY: Turkish parliament approves foreign military operations and beefs up forces on Syrian border
Record ID:
702361
TURKEY: Turkish parliament approves foreign military operations and beefs up forces on Syrian border
- Title: TURKEY: Turkish parliament approves foreign military operations and beefs up forces on Syrian border
- Date: 5th October 2012
- Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (OCTOBER 4, 2012) (REUTERS) TURKISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BESIR ATALAY MAKING A STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BESIR ATALAY SAYING: "This is not a war memorandum. This is a deterrent measure taken in line with Turkey's interests, for use when it needs to protect its mainland depending on possible developments. This was clearly stated in the memorandum sent to the Parliament by the government. Turkey is only seeking to protect its rights."
- Embargoed: 20th October 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Turkey
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA5X0G8NTIF5DDGMQP1DJH8EKFM
- Story Text: Turkey's parliament gave authorisation on Thursday (October 4) for military operations outside Turkish borders if the government deemed them necessary, a day after artillery shelling from Syria killed five civilians in a Turkish town.
The government had sought parliamentary approval to send soldiers to foreign countries in a memorandum which said that "aggressive action" by Syria's armed forces against Turkish territory posed a serious threat to national security.
Speaking to reporters after the parliament session, authorised, Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said Turkey had exercised its right to retaliation and that the assembly's authorisation was not a 'war memorandum'.
"This is not a war memorandum. This is a deterrent measure taken in line with Turkey's interests, for use when it needs to protect its mainland depending on possible developments. This was clearly stated in the memorandum sent to the Parliament by the government. Turkey is only seeking to protect its rights."" Atalay told reporters.
He stressed Turkey's priority is to act in coordination with international institutions in response to artillery shelling from Syria which killed five civilians in its southeast.
Atalay also said Syria has apologised through the United Nations for the mortar strike which killed five civilians in southeast Turkey.
"Syria accepts that they did it and they apologise. They say nothing like this will happen again. The United Nations mediated and spoke to Syria in the evening and Syria made these statements through the United Nations." he said.
In the most serious cross-border escalation of the 18-month uprising in Syria, Turkey hit back after what it called "the last straw" when the mortar hit Akcakale, killing a mother, her three children and a female relative, deploying armoured military vehicles and troops along the Syrian border on Thursday (October 4).
Turkey's military response contrasted with its relative restraint when Syria shot down a Turkish reconnaissance jet in June. Ankara increased its military presence along its 900-km (560-mile) border with Syria and called a meeting of NATO's North Atlantic Council.
At the time, Erdogan warned any Syrian element approaching Turkey's border and deemed a threat would be treated as a military target.
Turkey is sheltering more than 90,000 refugees from Syria and fears a mass influx similar to the flight of half a million Iraqi Kurds into Turkey after the 1991 Gulf War.
World leaders condemned the mortar strike but urged restraint. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None