ANKARA, Feb 1 (AFP) - The ties between Turkey and the United States remain strong even though the two NATO allies have often been at odds on issues concerning Iraq, a senior Pentagon official said here Tuesday.
Douglas Feith, the US undersecretary of defense for policy, insisted that the two countries had common interests in securing stability in Iraq and expressed hope that Washington would reach a deal with Ankara to use a base in southern Turkey as a cargo hub.
"We've had some differences over Iraq and many differences have caused problems... but problems are not that unusual in an alliance of free countries," Feith told reporters before wrapping up a two-day visit in Ankara.
"We have a useful, strong, deeply-rooted alliance with Turkey and it will continue," he said.
Historically close bilateral relations hit an all-time low ahead of the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 when the Turkish parliament rejected a US request to use Turkish territory to mount an attack on Iraq from the north.
Since then, Turkey has also complained over US failure to act against separatist Turkish Kurd rebels hiding in northern Iraq and most recently over what it sees as US reluctance to rein in attempts by the Iraqi Kurds to take control of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has warned Turkey could take action if ethnic turmoil erupts in Kirkuk, which also has a sizeable population of Turkmens, a community of Turkish origin.
Many Kurds want to see Kirkuk, which has some of Iraq's largest oil resources, as the capital of an independent Kurdish state, a nightmare scenario for Turkey.
Feith assured Ankara that Iraq's unity remained a "top priority" because "preserving Iraq's territorial integrity is a key to the stability and peace of the region."
The Kirkuk dispute and other problems Turkey is concerned about in conflict-torn Iraq should be "resolved in a way that strengthens the integrity of" the neighboring country, he said.
Feith confirmed he discussed with Turkish officials a US proposal to use the Incirlik military base in the southern province of Adana as a logistical cargo hub for US forces operating in the region.
"We are interested in talking with Turkey about that and see if there is a sensible arrangement that we can both agree to," he said.
The base was used by US and British warplanes to patrol a no-fly zone over northern Iraq prior to the invasion of Iraq.
Feith denied reports that Washington was seeking to station 48 F-16 fighter planes at the base.
His talks here will be followed by a visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the weekend.
02/01/2005 10:30 GMT - AFP