IT IS WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF PARLIAMENT TO SEND SOLDIERS ABROAD AND TO APPRECIATE IF INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY CONDITION EXISTS

ANKARA - A statement was issued by the Presidential Palace on Wednesday noting that it was within the authority of parliament to give decision on sending Turkish Armed Forces to foreign countries and to appreciate if international legitimacy condition existed.
A Presidential Press Center statement noted that there was no change in the views of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer about the issue.
The Press Centre noted that it was useful to clarify certain issues regarding the news and comments published in the press about the meeting held in Presidential Palace on Tuesday.
''Under Article 92 of the Constitution, it falls within the authority of the parliament to send Turkish Armed Forces to foreign countries or to permit existence of foreign armed forces in Turkey under conditions considered as legitimate by the international law. Therefore, it is within the authority of the parliament, where the national will is formed, to give a decision on this issue and appreciate whether the condition of international legitimacy exists or not. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer stressed that point in his earlier speeches and there is no change in his views,'' it was noted.

SAHIN: ''I HAD IMPRESSION THAT A POSITIVE CONSENSUS WAS REACHED IN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE''
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said on Wednesday that he had impression that ''a positive consensus'' was reached in the meeting on sending soldiers to Iraq which was held in Presidential Palace yesterday.
Sahin who attended a signing ceremony of collective agreement replied to questions of reporters.
Sahin said that he did not attend Tuesday's meeting in Presidential Palace and added that he received information about the meeting from the statement which was released after the meeting.
Stating that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan shed light on the issue to an extent by making a statement following the meeting, Sahin said, ''it is understood that a consensus was reached in the summit of the state. Council of Ministers' meeting will be held on August 18. I think that Prime Minister Erdogan will add this issue to the agenda. Both Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gul will inform the cabinet about the issue. We will probably negotiate the issue. We will see all together what will happen after that. I could not find any chance to meet with Erdogan and Gul yet. I have not enough information about details. But, I think that this issue was negotiated in detail in the meeting in Presidential Palace and a consensus on the issue was reached. I had impression that a positive consensus was reached in the meeting.''
Upon another question, Sahin said that if the Council of Ministers felt need of submitting a new motion on sending soldiers to Iraq, the parliament could pass such a motion.
''We don't send soldiers to Iraq in order to send a police and gendarme force. If Iraqi people's being in good condition and of course Turkey's interests are in question, I think that the parliament will give a positive response to such a demand for motion,'' Sahin added.

FATSA: ''A MOTION WHICH DOES NOT MENTION NORTH OF IRAQ WON'T BE SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT''
Eyup Fatsa, the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Group Leader said on Wednesday that the sensitivities of Turkey in north of Iraq were well known.
''A motion which does not mention north of Iraq, can't be submitted to the parliament. Even if it comes, it can't be accepted,'' said Fatsa talking to journalists.
Fatsa said that a common understanding came out during the summit held in Presidential Palace about sending soldiers to Iraq, adding that this issue would be clarified after the cabinet meeting and National Security Council (NSC) meeting. Fatsa said that the parliament could convene in an extraordinary session after the end of this process. Fatsa said that the destiny of the motion depended on the things Turkey would take and give.
Fatsa stated that the sensitivities in Iraq and the interests of Turkey would be taken into consideration regarding the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq.
''It is not possible to give up our sensitivities in north of Iraq. We won't ever discuss north of Iraq. A motion which does not mention north of Iraq, which does not foresee the presence of Turkish soldiers in north of Iraq can't be submitted to the parliament, and even if it is submitted, it won't be accepted.''
Fatsa said that the sensitivities of Turkey towards Iraq were not new adding that if these were explained well, the motion could be adopted in the parliament.
Recalling that the statement issued after the Presidential Palace meeting didn't underline 'international legitimacy,'' Fatsa said that ''yet efforts are underway for adoption of a resolution by the U.N. This can be possible in the coming days.''
Referring to the chaos seen in Iraq after the war, Fatsa said that ''it is the matter of the U.S. and U.K. which could not provide the authority.''
Fatsa commented that if Turkish soldiers were to be sent to Iraq, the Iraqi people could trust them.
(Öª-AÖ) 13.08.2003