KAYSERI - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said on Friday that Turkish Armed Forces always had to be ready for mission due to Turkey's geography, neighbours and strategic importance.
Cakmakoglu told a press conference that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit made the necessary statement about a probable U.S. operation on Iraq.
He did not have any information that a federal state would be formed by the Turkmens in Northern Iraq.
Asked if the military exercises were a preparation for a possible operation on Iraq, Cakmakoglu said, ''Turkish Armed Forces is not exercising new maneouvres. It stages such exercises every year. It is believed that the current exercise is a preparation since Iraq is on the agenda.'' When asked if Turkey would open its borders to Iraqi refugees in case of a probable U.S. operation on Iraq, Cakmakoglu noted, ''when such a possibility occurs, we will meet this in Northern Iraq.''
Upon a question if the United States demanded an increase in number of aircraft in Incirlik Base, Cakmakoglu said, ''there can be some technical demands but we haven't received any political information.''