''It Was A Mistake But...''

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said that rejection of the motion regarding deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey on March 1st, 2003 (before the war against Iraq), ``was a mistake``, adding, ``but we allowed the U.S. planes to accumulate a total of 4,300 flights via Turkey.``
     In an exclusive interview with the Hurriyet daily which was published on today`s front cover, Gonul said, ``the U.S. disappointed with the rejection (of the motion). However, it was a decision of the parliament. This is quite normal in democracies and parliamentary regimes. A number of lawmakers abstained during the voting at the parliament. In fact, votes in favor of the motion were higher in number than the votes against it. However the motion was rejected since abstaining lawmakers (as a rule of procedure) were counted among lawmakers who cast their votes against it.`` --US EMBARGO AND THE MOTION INCIDENT-
     When asked whether the event caused a serious drawback in relations with the United States, Gonul said, ``we have tried to overcome it. After the rejection of the motion, we gave permission for overflights. As a result, U.S. planes accumulated a total of 4,300 sorties. Turkey and the United States have countless common interests. We have even forgotten the Cyprus embargoes (i.e. embargoes imposed by U.S. against Turkey because of the military intervention in Cyprus). I hope that the United States will forget the (incident of) motion of March 1st.``
     Replying to a question about the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, Gonul said, ``the United States has been using the Incirlik as a NATO base for a long time. They have the opportunity of deploying fighters, personnel and equipment under a resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council. We have already been sending humanitarian aid to Iraq by trucks. There is no obstacle for transportation of humanitarian aid by planes from the Incirlik Base either.``
     (UK-ULG)
2005-05-18