ISTANBUL - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said on Monday, ''it is understood that the United States is determined to intervene in Iraq,'' adding that it wanted to form a world public opinion, namely a regional public opinion for it.
Cakmakoglu responded to reporters' questions before the quartet meeting of Turkish, Bulgarian, Greek and Romanian defense ministers in Harbiye Military Museum and Culture Site in Istanbul.
When asked how he assessed Iraqi Kurdistan Democrat Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani's attitude who stepped back, Cakmakoglu said that it was not possible to take it serious Barzani's statements which did not fit his own condition and could not be compared with his power, added that his stepping back could be summarized as his seeing the facts.
Responding to a question on ''developments in Iraq'', Cakmakoglu said, ''your words 'developments in Iraq' mainly refer to an intervention which the United States thinks to make in Iraq. We know that the United States is determined to intervene in Iraq. It is understood like this. However, Turkey suggested and recommended Iraq to abide by the U.N. Security Council resolutions by fully opening the country for complete and effective inspection, and that it would be more realistic to allow an inspection that would eliminate mass destruction weapons and long range missiles and the possibilities for producing these. We did not change this policy. The United States wants to form a world public opinion, namely a regional public opinion.''
Cakmakoglu recalled that all Arab countries and coalition force including 28 countries supported the operation during the ''First Gulf Crisis'', adding that a public opinion which would support the United States should be formed for a new intervention in Iraq.
When asked if the United States had demanded anything form Turkey for a possible intervention in Iraq, Cakmakoglu said that the U.S. government did not have a concrete demand from Turkey, noting that foreign affairs and military officials except himself could also have meetings which would be on technical level.
Responding to a question that how a U.S. military operation against Iraq would affect Turkey before or after November 3, Cakmakoglu said, ''Turkey has a thousand-year state tradition. The administrations have affects, but a fundamental negative development should not be expected. Those who rule Turkey are capable of doing what is required without being affected by the political developments. Alternative precautions are being developed.''
When asked if the United States had any demand concerning Incirlik Base, he said that there was not such a concrete demand.