PARLIAMENT APPROVES MOTION ON IRAQ TROOP DEPLOYMENT
In an long-awaited vote, Parliament yesterday overwhelmingly passed a government motion requesting one-year authorization for the deployment of Turkish troops in Iraq. In a closed session, 358 deputies voted for the motion and 183 against, with two abstentions. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputies voted in unison to reject the motion. On the other hand, Parliament’s three True Path Party (DYP) deputies voted in favor. Speaking to reporters after the landmark vote, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his pleasure at Parliament’s decision. “Turkish troops won’t go to Iraq to wage war, but rather to help the Iraqis usher in peace and stability,” said Erdogan. Meanwhile, US officials also welcomed the motion’s passage. Following the vote, US Secretary of State Colin Powell called his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul to say that the US appreciated the decision. /All Papers/

SEZER: “TURKISH-BULGARIAN RELATIONS ARE A BEACON FOR THE REGION”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer hosted a dinner last evening at the Cankaya Presidential Palace in honor of visiting Bulgarian President Georgi Pirvanov. Speaking at the occasion, Sezer hailed the good state of relations between Ankara and Sofia. “Our ties are a model for other countries in the region,” he said. For his part, Pirvanov thanked the Turkish administration for its support during Bulgaria’s NATO membership bid, adding that the two countries’ current state of relations was better than ever. /Turkiye/

TURKISH, US SIDES SET TO NAIL DOWN DETAILS OF IRAQ DEPLOYMENT
Following Parliament’s passage yesterday of an Iraq troop deployment motion, officials from the Foreign Ministry and the General Staff are bracing themselves for a busy schedule to settle details of the deployment with US officials. The Turkish delegation will be headed by Ambassador Deniz Bolukbasi, while the leader of the US side is not yet known. /Turkiye/

IKDP’S DIZAI: “WE DON’T WANT TURKISH TROOPS IN IRAQ”
The Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IPUK) won’t welcome Turkish troop deployment in Iraq, said IKDP representative in Ankara Safeen Dizai yesterday. Pointing to recent attacks on coalition forces in the country, Dizai warned, “The same thing will happen to Turkish soldiers.” Appearing on television, Dizai said that if Turkish troops are sent to Iraq, care should be taken that their deployment route not pass through northern Iraq. Stressing that the Iraqis view coalition forces as invaders, the Kurdish representative claimed that any Turkish troops sent to Iraq would be seen exactly the same way. /Cumhuriyet/

THREE TURKISH TRUCK DRIVERS KILLED BY IRAQIS
During an attack on a Turkish truck convoy in Bayji, Iraq over the weekend, three drivers were reportedly killed and many others were wounded by Iraqi attackers. Hundreds of trucks are waiting at the entrance of the city, where tension remains high. Speaking on the incident, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that the attack was not aimed at Turkish drivers in particular. “There is turmoil in the region, but it’s not targeting or singling out Turks,” remarked Gul. /Turkiye/

GOVERNING COUNCIL DENIES REPORTS OF OPPOSITION TO TURKISH TROOPS IN IRAQ
According to several media reports, Iraq’s Governing Council said earlier this week that it would not accept troops from any neighboring state on its soil. However, yesterday the council denied these reports, stating that it had not made any official decision on the issue. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also echoed these denials. “We’ve talked with Turkmen members of the council, and it’s made no official announcement on the issue,” said Gul. “However, certain Kurdish members would like to persuade the council to take such a position.” Appearing on CNN Turk yesterday, Songul Cabuk, a Turkmen member of the council, stated that although certain members were clearly opposed to Turkish troops coming to Iraq there had been no official announcement on the issue. Also speaking yesterday after Parliament voted in favor of Turkish troop deployment in Iraq, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher hailed the decision. "Turkish troops would contribute to stability in Iraq,” he said, “and we will be consulting closely with the Turkish government over the details of Turkish participation." The spokesman stated that Washington was aware of the reservations of certain Iraqi leaders but noted that the Governing Council had made no definitive statement on the subject. "We believe these things can be worked out [and] should be worked out because Turkish troops can make a contribution to stability. We will be working on all the details ... to make sure that the Iraqis agree with us on that," he added. /All Papers/

EU REPRESENTATIVE KRETSCHMER: “I HOPE YOUR TROOPS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE AND STABILITY IN IRAQ”
European Commission Representative to Turkey Hansjoerg Kretschmer yesterday said that Turkey’s decision on deploying its troops to Iraq had been made within the framework of its national sovereignty. Speaking to reporters, Kretschmer said that he hoped Turkish soldiers would make positive contributions to peace and stability in the region. “Turkey has announced that it will go to Iraq to restore stability and extend humanitarian aid,” said the EU representative. “I hope Turkey’s contributions will have a positive impact on Iraq. The Turkish government will help not only to establish peace and stability but also to boost living conditions for the Iraqi people.” /Cumhuriyet/

BAYKAL BLASTS DEPLOYMENT DECISION AS “CONTEMPTIBLE”
Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal yesterday blasted Parliament’s vote to greenlight sending Turkish troops to Iraq, charging that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had flouted Turkey’s sovereignty and will for the sake of $8.5 billion in US loans. “Turkey has never seen such contempt,” said Baykal, whose party voted lockstep against the deployment. “The way to establish peace and stability in Iraq isn’t to send more foreign soldiers. There are already 180,000 US GIs there, so an extra 10,000 Turkish soldiers won’t make any difference. Turkey shouldn’t serve the interests of a foreign power. What’s more, the US has failed to win international legitimacy. If Turkey acts like a lackey to US interests, its international standing will suffer.” Both Ankara and Washington have consistently denied any linkage between the recent loan deal and the troop deployment issue. /Sabah/

TUSIAD CHAIRMAN OZILHAN: “WE RESPECT PARLIAMENT’S DECISION”
Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan yesterday expressed his hope for Turkey’s success in Iraq, stressing that the nation should respect Parliament’s decision authorizing troop deployment there. “We have nothing further to say on this issue,” added Ozilhan. “TUSIAD had previously warned the government that it should very carefully weigh the political and military aspects of troop deployments. Parliament has given the final word, so I hope this works to our country’s benefit.” /Hurriyet/

IMF’S MOGHADAM URGES CALM ON BANKING SECTOR WOES
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam yesterday visited Rifat Hisarciklioglu, head of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB). Moghadam stated that Turkish businessmen expressing vocal concerns about the current woes of the banking system should try to calm down, underlining that the nation’s macroeconomic indicators were positive. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Hisarciklioglu said high unemployment remained one of Turkey’s chief problems, adding that the IMF should take up this issue immediately. /Milliyet/