Ankara - One of the leading decision makers of the U.S., Paul Wolfowitz, said the U.S. could not find the support that it was looking for from the Turkish army during the Iraq war, and it seems Turkey's Incirlik airbase will lose its importance, though the U.S. had not reached a decision to leave this airbase.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defence Wolfowitz, speaking to private CNN Turk television, said that the Turkish army did not play a leadership role and did not say `Turkey's interest is in supporting the U.S. in this war', which was expected from it.
The Turkish government had failed to pass a motion from Parliament that was to allow the deployment of U.S. troops in Turkey and opening of a northern front. The failure of the government motion strained relations and U.S. officials had said that they felt frustrated.
The U.S. might have guaranteed the security of northern Iraq more quickly with Turkey's assistance and from now on Turkey and the U.S. should work together to guarantee stability in northern Iraq, said Wolfowitz.
Leaders of Kurdish factions in northern Iraq, Jalal Talabani and Masoud Barzani, are in Baghdad and they are trying to play an important role in the future of Iraq. This is a positive development and the U.S. should work together with them, stated Wolfowitz.
Turkey's Iran and Syria policy should be in harmonization with U.S. policy. The U.S. is thinking that they should change their attitude, said Wolfowitz.
Wolfowitz said that the U.S. Secretary of State conveyed a very stern message to Syria that it should give up supporting terrorism. Turkey and U.S. efforts on the issue should be in coordination with each other.
Asked on the importance of Turkey's Incirlik airbase, that hosts British and U.S. planes, Wolfowitz said that it seems Turkey's Incirlik airbase will lose its importance but the U.S. had not reached a decision on leaving this airbase.
Wolfowitz also answered CNN Turk's question about press reports on Turkish soldiers reportedly taken into custody and deported by the U.S. forces, reportedly giving arms to Turkmens, who have ethnic and historic ties with Turkey.
This action was a violation of the rules that the U.S. voiced very clearly, but everyone should forget this since Mr. Gul and Mr. Powell made the necessary discussions on the issue, he said.
Answering a question on the terrorist organization Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), that has militants in northern Iraq and embark on many terrorist activities in Turkey, Wolfowitz said that the PKK is a terrorist organization and the U.S. cannot approach this organization with tolerance.
Wolfowitz said that he cannot give the answer of how the U.S. will deal with the problem at that moment, but Turkey, Kurdish groups and the U.S. said the PKK is a terrorist organization and we don't need such a problem in the region.
Asked on Turkey's role in an international stability force in Iraq that is being planned to be established, Wolfowitz said there are some difficulties in Turkey's taking part in the stability force, sourcing from Ottoman history.
Wolfowitz also said that Turkey should accept that it made a mistake, and should embark on helping the U.S. from now on. This is important for Turkey, since Turkey is the country that will benefit from the positive developments in Iraq very much and quickly.
There is serious frustration regarding Turkey's attitude but we have an opportunity to correct the mistake. There is a chance for cooperation, he said.
Wolfowitz added that if the U.S. and Turkey work together in the democratization project of an Arab country and they achieve this, then all the damages in relations will be fixed.
Wolfowitz concluded that by the way of democratization of Iraq, Arabs will see that democracy may be implemented in Arabic countries.
SOURCE: Turkish Daily News