ANKARA - Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug denied on Tuesday press reports that Turkey had reached an agreement with U.S. authorities regarding Kirkuk.
Basbug, in a press briefing today in Ankara, said, ''however, we naturally discuss the future of Kirkuk with every official we meet, particularly the U.S. officials.''
Noting that Turkey wanted the energy resources in Iraq to be equally and fairly used by all Iraqi people, Basbug said that Kirkuk, which was a ground for 12 percent of Iraqi oil, had a particular importance in this context.
Drawing attention that Kirkuk's history and Turkmens in the region should also be taken into consideration, Basbug noted that this matter could not only be assessed ''as a domestic affair'' of Iraq.
Stating that ''any wrong decision might cause an internal clash or a civil war in Iraq'', Basbug stressed that it was also an assessment of U.S. officials and NATO intelligence sources.
Basbug said, ''if a civil war erupts in Iraq, it would probably affect Turkey. Therefore, Kirkuk is very important. Kirkuk should be granted special status, and it should be protected.''
-KIRKUK IS A STATE POLICY-
Referring to speculative press reports about operation plans regarding Kirkuk, Basbug said, ''it is our task to coordinate and prevent any unfavorable development regarding Kirkuk. So it is our duty to make plans against every possibility. Kirkuk is a State policy, and therefore, a decision (on this matter) is made by a common view of all institutions.''
(BRC-MS) 02.11.2004