Gonul: Government's Authority Given By Parliament Does Not Mean A Decision Has Been Taken To Dispatch Soldiers To Iraq

ANKARA - National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said on Tuesday, ''the parliament has authorized the government to contribute to the international initiative aiming at settling stability in Iraq. However, this does not mean that a decision has been taken to dispatch Turkish soldiers to this country.''
Parliamentary Plan and Budget Commission has begun debating budget of the Ministry of National Defense for the year 2004.
Speaking at the meeting, Gonul said, ''instability and uncertainties in the Middle East have gained a new dimension. As a result, risks against our security have risen. New political structure of Iraq has not been clarified yet. On numerous occasions, Turkey enumerated its targets about rebuilding process of Iraq as protection of independence, territorial integrity and national unity; eradication of presence of the terrorist organization PKK/KADEK in the region; use of Iraq's natural resources by Iraqi people for their prosperity; and protection of rights and freedoms of all Iraqi people.''
''The parliament has authorized the government to contribute to the international initiative aiming at settling stability in Iraq. However, this does not mean that a decision has been taken to dispatch Turkish soldiers to this country. For the time being, we have been working to determine scope, place and details of Turkey's participation in the U.S.-led international force. This process includes a national assessment of the issue and consultations with the United States,'' he underlined.
Gonul noted, ''today, settlement of stability and security in Iraq is urgently required. Ongoing lack of security atmosphere in the country has constituted a serious blow on efforts of economic and political rebuilding. Current security conditions do not allow Iraqi people and coalition forces to re-activate main services. Political transition process has still been on the beginning level. This process should be strengthened with the participation of all sections of Iraqi people.''
Gonul said, ''we really see Iraqi people as our neighbor and relative. Our target is to start a basic civilian activity which is supported by military security. The authority which our government has taken from Parliament is valid for one year. This reality shows that our role in Iraq is evaluated as temporarily.''
Touching on relations with other countries in Middle East as well, Gonul said that Iran's effort to expel its revolution, its contradicting attitudes in fight against terrorism and its policies towards Azerbaijan and Armenia which did not coincide with Turkey's interests made development of relations with this country difficult.
Gonul said that Iran's conventional armament and its possibility to have activities in production of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons continued to be a risk for the security of region.
Noting that Turkey's defense policy was arranged to protect the country's national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and vital interests, Gonul said, ''Turkey sees contribution to peace and security in the region and spread it to wide regions, being a country which produces strategy and security that can affect all strategies towards the region and beyond it, being a balance element and a power in its region, forming a peace and security zone around it, benefiting from every type of opportunities to develop cooperation, closeness and positive relations and launching initiatives as contemporary targets.''
GONUL: ''TSK TARGETS IMPLEMENTATION OF A MIXED SYSTEM COMPRISING OF PROFESSIONAL MILITARY SYSTEM AND COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE''

National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said on Tuesday, ''the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) targets implementation of a mixed system comprising of professional military system and compulsory military service in the course of the time.''
Parliamentary Plan and Budget Commission has begun debating budget of the Ministry of National Defense for the year 2004.
Speaking at the meeting, Gonul said, ''the concept of 'Professional Army' has led some misunderstandings and different expectations in the public opinion. In order to remove these misunderstandings, I want to clarify the issue. The concept of 'Professional Army' does not mean all armed forces' becoming professional. The TSK targets implementation of a mixed system comprising of professional military system and compulsory military service in the course of the time.''
''Meanwhile, Directorate General of Military Recruitment (ASAL) Automation Project has been taken up again to provide a rapid, influential and low-cost service to our people. We have begun starting works to set up a system to enable our people to carry out their proceedings through internet,'' he said.
Referring to activities in defense industry, Gonul said, ''we attribute importance to development of multipurpose defense systems requiring high-technology such as low-altitude air defense, electronic war systems in land, naval and air platforms and command control as well as missile-defense system. Defense Industry Supporting Fund has spent 14 billion U.S. dollars since its foundation to reach its targets.''
GONUL: ''IF SENDING SOLDIERS TO NORTH OF IRAQ IS NECESSARY TODAY, THERE WON'T BE ANY HESITATIONS''
Responding to questions of deputies after the adoption of the 2004 financial year budget of the National Defense Ministry, Gonul explained his views about the assessment saying that the U.S. didn't want Turkey to enter the north of Iraq.
Gonul said that Turkish soldiers were in north of Iraq before 1991, and that they got their legitimacy from the passage right and hot-pursuit agreement. After the authority vacuum that came out after 1991, that became a vested right and soldiers were permitted to enter the region if necessary, said Gonul. ''If it is necessary to do it now, there won't be any hesitation'' adding this would be in line with hot pursuit and security. Gonul said that soldiers were sent to north of Iraq according to the character of the service sometimes from Special War Department and sometimes from other forces, adding that the number of soldiers was determined according to the requirements of the service. Gonul said that it was not right to give the exact number of soldiers that were present in the region today.
Gonul said that the content of the motion on sending soldiers to Iraq noted that ''if necessary, soldiers will be sent to Iraq.'' Gonul stressed that sending soldiers was out of question if there was no need and if there was no agreement on method of sending soldiers, the place of the mission, the issues of mission and command, adding that the negotiations continued on periodic basis. The preparations of the military units ended and that they didn't require any additional budget if the decision to send soldiers became a reality.
Gonul said that the government didn't have any study about shortening the military service or exemption from military service by paying money.
(ÖŞ-AÖ) 04.11.2003