REGION OF DEPLOYMENT AND NUMBER OF SOLDIERS TO BECOME DEFINITE WITH RECONNAISSANCE
ANKARA - Deputy Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug said on Monday that region of deployment and number of soldiers that would be sent to contribute to security and stability of Iraq would become definite after reconnaissance in the region.
Gen. Basbug replied to questions of reporters after the press briefing at the General Staff Headquarters.
When asked when Turkish soldiers would start working in Iraq, Gen. Basbug said determination of deployment region was important in this process, stating that studies on the issue continued with U.S. officials.
Gen. Basbug said determination of deployment region of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in Iraq belonged to government, stating that, ``reconnaissance will continue after determination of deployment region, and technical talks will start. It will not be appropriate to announce a definite date.``
Lieutenant General Metin Yavuz Yalcin, head of military operations of the General Staff, replying to a question which asked the elements that effected determination of deployment region, stated that military, logistic and supply roads were influential.
Gen. Basbug in his part said that they considered the issue from military point of view, stating that, ``talks continue. We are within a process. We think that it is not appropriate to express the priorities.``
Gen. Basbug said, ``we will undertake the responsibility of a division sector. You may perceive this as division headquarters. This figure will become definite with the reconnaissance in deployment region.``
Gen. Basbug said that participation to stability force in Iraq should not only be considered in military means, stating that related ministries and institutions would join this force in humanitarian aid means.
WE REACHED A COMMON POINT WITH U.S. OFFICIALS TO ELIMINATE PKK MEMBERS FROM NORTH OF IRAQ
When asked whether or not a joint operation was planned with the United States against PKK/KADEK, Gen. Basbug stressed that fight of the United States against PKK/KADEK did not have any connection with Turkey`s sending soldiers to Iraq.
Gen. Basbug said, ``Turkey may or may not enter stability operation in Iraq. We expected the United States to take necessary serious measures against PKK. A separate study is carried out under the coordination of Foreign Ministry about the joint measures. A joint operation may be thought in the future.``
When a journalist said the United States was not positive towards a joint operation against PKK/KADEK, Gen. Basbug said, ``we see that the statements, made in the second meeting carried out under the coordination of Foreign Ministry, are positive. Talks will continue. This is a process.``
Replying to another journalist who said the United States was slow in neutralization of existence of PKK/KADEK in north of Iraq, Gen. Basbug said, ``during the meetings with U.S. officials we underlined that some groups like PKK were uneasy before U.S. armed forces started operation. A definite time passed after completion of operation. We can not say that U.S. took a serious measure against PKK. We conveyed this to U.S. side in every opportunity.``
Gen. Basbug said, ``the sides reached the same point at the meetings. We reached with U.S. officials a common point to eliminate PKK members from north of Iraq. We expect serious sanction from the United States on its own or together with us. Fight against PKK in north of Iraq is vital for Turkey.``
Upon a question regarding the dimensions of PKK/KADEK terrorist threat in the north of Iraq, Gen. Basbug said that PKK/KADEK members located mainly in Kandil Mountain near Iranian border and he added that according to intelligence reports, there were around 4500-5000 PKK/KADEK members in this region.
Noting that they considered PKK/KADEK as a serious threat against Turkey, Gen. Basbug said that PKK terrorist organization members should be surrendered to Turkey by leaving their arms.
When asked whether their expectations were fulfilled with Reassociation Law, Gen. Basbug said that they could not say that they were on expected point today, but the serious manner of the United States against KADEK could bring some positive developments.
WE EXPECT IRAQI GOVERNING COUNCIL TO ADOPT A MORE POSITIVE STANCE
When a journalist asked whether or not statements of Iraqi Governing council and Kurdish groups that they did not want Turkey in Iraq affected their action plans, Gen. Basbug said, ``we expect the Iraqi Governing Council to adopt a more positive stance. Political authorities will make the evaluations.``
Gen. Basbug said some main supply roads in north of Iraq would be used in logistic means in case Turkey participated in stability operation, stating that, ``we will be in an effort to provide security of supply roads working in coordination with U.S. units in the region.``
Replying a question about possible threats that may come from Kurdish groups to supply roads, Gen. Basbug said, ``necessary response will be given to those who attack. It`s something that they need to think about. We have the capacity to protect ourselves. There should not be any concern.``
When a journalist asked about the reaction of Turkish Armed Forces against terrorist attacks, Gen. Basbug said Turkish Armed Forces has been in such kind of operations since 1984, stating that, ``everybody should know very well reaction of Turkish soldiers. We could not have come to this point in domestic security operations if we did not have such kind of soldiers.``
When asked which was the most risky region for Turkey, and which region they wanted, Gen. Basbug said there were terrorist groups opposing regime in Iraq, there were international terrorist organizations and ordinary crime organizations in Iraq, stating that it would not be possible to evaluate the risk in regions. He said there was risk in all regions.
Gen. Basbug, replying to another question, stated that unit that would be assigned in stability force in Iraq, would be under the control of General Staff.
Upon a question regarding the experience of TSK on wars within cities in Iraq, Gen. Basbug said that TSK`s participation in stability operation in Iraq was not a new issue and the military units which would take part in this operation were trained.
When recalled the reactions against the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq, Gen. Basbug said that this issue was related with political authority and added that TSK carried on preparations for possible missions to be given to them.
When a reporter said that Turkey would receive a financial support if it sent soldiers to Iraq, Gen. Basbug said that financial issues and participation in stability operation were not related issues and making a connection between them would be against national interests.
Upon another question, Gen. Basbug said that the authorization motion which the government had taken was for one year and TSK made its preparations according to that period and he added that extension of this period depended on decision of Parliament.
When recalled that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer stressed international laws regarding Iraq issue, Gen. Basbug said that Turkey had been discussing this for a long time and added that the point that was related with TSK was undertaking the mission.
Gen. Basbug said that the briefing was for giving right information to press and they would repeat it if it would be necessary again.
(GC-AY) 13.10.2003