Baykal: We Are Going To Iraq To Put Out Fire, But We Can Be A Part Of The Fire

BREMEN - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said on Friday that Turkish soldiers were going to Iraq to put out the fire and noted, ''but, we can be a part of the fire.''
Prior to the meeting on strategy of European Union (EU) to bring Turkey closer to itself in political, economic and legal fields held in Bremen, Germany, Baykal told reporters that Turkey had never intervened in conflicts in neighboring countries.
Baykal said, ''now, we are going to Iraq being deprived of international law.''
Reiterating that parliament's decision to send soldiers was wrong, Baykal said that it was not right to grant authorization to the government to send soldiers and the decision imposed an additional burden on the government.
Baykal said, ''the government said first the motion then the talks. This is wrong. Firstly negotiations should have been held and then decision on the motion should have been taken. Logistical and security issues, the number of soldiers who will be sent to Iraq and where they will serve in Iraq should have been discussed by the U.S. administration beforehand. Are we going there to save the Americans or are they going to save us when necessary? These issues should have been discussed.''
The government lost its chance to negotiate with that decision, Baykal stated.
Baykal said, ''at the same time, this decision shows a historic break in the foreign affairs. We are sending soldiers to a country being deprived of international law and support for the first time. This has no legal support. We are sending soldiers just because the United States wants.''
Iraq did not want Turkish soldiers, Baykal noted.
Baykal said, ''Iraqi people don't want us. The interim governing council in Iraq doesn't want us either. We are going to this country even though we are not wanted. Thus, we are in the position of invader. This will be debated in Turkey for years and we will have pangs of conscience. We are violating one of our foreign policy principles.''
Drawing attention that clashes in Iraq could turn into clashes of ethnic matters, Baykal said, ''some people in Turkey say that 10 thousand soldiers will not be enough. Will we be the center of clash? 30 thousand of our soldiers died due to clashes with terrorists in the past.''
Touching on Turkey's EU membership, Baykal said that they had exerted intensive efforts to enable Turkey take the place it deserved in the EU.
Noting that Turkey had recorded significant progress, Baykal said that many big steps were taken in reforms.
Baykal added, ''Europe has many expectations. Also, we sometimes criticize and try to direct the government. Necessary groundwork should be laid in some issues. We should help Europe find a reason to start full membership negotiations with Turkey.''
(BRC-AY) 10.10.2003