ANKARA - Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok said on Wednesday that sector where Turkish soldiers would have mission in Iraq and the number of soldiers were not definite.
Ozkok attended a reception held on the occasion of opening of New Legislative Year.
When asked whether or not the sector where Turkish soldiers would be deployed in Iraq was definite, Ozkok said, ''the sector is not definite yet. We think of some places. Studies on several alternatives are continuing. But the authority which was given to us is to hold preliminary talks.''
Upon a question on the number of soldiers, Ozkok said, ''the number of soldiers is not definite yet either. I do not know what the parliament will say according to information from the government. It may put some conditions. The detailed talks will be held later.''
Ozkok said that view of the General Staff was not taken regarding the 8.5 billion U.S. dollars loan of finance agreement which was signed with the United States.
When a reporter said that the loan agreement which was signed with the United States was depended on the condition of ''not carrying out a hot pursuit'', Ozkok said, ''I hear it from you. Those are diplomatic affairs. Words are very important in diplomacy.'' He added that he did not know the issue.
When a reporter said that there was concern on the issue in the public opinion, Ozkok said that dispatch of soldiers to north of Iraq and the loan should be taken up as different issues.
When a reporter asked if he felt uneasiness on it, Ozkok said, ''yes, of course. But I don't know why they make a relation between those issues with each other. I don't know it is true. We learn it from the press. One says that hot pursuit and one says that you should not enter.''
Land Forces Commander Aytac Yalman who intervened in the chat said that they felt uneasiness because those issues were connected with each other.
Ozkok said that but both issues should not be brought together and stated, ''just like our contribution to stability force and PKK in north of Iraq should be kept different. Why? Because one is a terrorist organization which is included in the terror list of the United States in a place where the United States is considered as authority by the United Nations. But the other is stability force. Those are different issues. Those two issues should not be connected with each other. It is our foreign policy. I am not making foreign policy here, I reiterate our foreign policy.''
When a reporter said, ''a delegation from the United States came to Ankara for talks on PKK/KADEK. It was said that terrorist groups will be removed from Iraq. But the word of terrorist was not used in the official documents,'' Ozkok said that Foreign Ministry was pursuing an official policy on this issue.
Ozkok underlined that the issue would go through its legal procedures, adding that parliament's approval was outside the limits of their authority.
Upon a question, Ozkok said that there were many factors which affected selection of the sector where Turkish soldiers would be deployed and stated, ''we will demand a place which will be appropriate for us by taking into consideration these factors.''
Ozkok said that they were ready for all missions which would be given to them and stated that they completed preliminary studies.
Ozkok said that they did not deny existence of Turkish soldiers in the region and stated, ''but every country has definite policies. Turkey is a big state. Turkish Armed Forces is a powerful army.''
When a reporter said, ''every country intervenes in elections in Cyprus. But it is as if it is prohibited only for Turkey. Do you have a Cyprus plan?'' Ozkok said, ''you listened to President in the parliament today. The state's policy on this issue is definite. But there are some prejudices on this issue. For example, you said that nothing is done. You cannot answer if I ask how you know it? Is it everything which is said on the paper? There are many patriots. Cyprus has administrators. Everyone tries to do something. There are dialogues with Turkey. We have dialogue even with foreign countries as well.''
(EÖ-AÖ) 02.10.2003