Bahceli: Turkey Will Never Allow Establishment Of Kurdish State

KIRKLARELI - Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said on Saturday that Turkey would never allow establishment of Kurdish state.
Speaking at an election campaign in Kirklareli Square, Bahceli said the 57th government was a compromising one when coalition governments in the previous periods were taken into consideration.
Bahceli said the 57th government fulfilled many successful legal and structural reforms, noting that economy developed almost in every area thanks to the economic reforms although two massive earthquakes had been experienced.
Pointing out that MHP called for early elections saying ''first of all my country, nation and later my party,'' Bahceli said there were those who tried to shake the government creating the problem of non-confidence.
Bahceli said those people later put forward the issue of political uncertainty and used health condition of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.
Bahceli said, ''their intention has been revealed. A new political scenerio was needed. Nobody said 'recover well soon' but they said 'the Prime Minister got sick. He can not administer the government from now on. It is clear that they turned health problems of the Prime Minister into a reason of their own political scenerio and planned a government without Ecevit and MHP.''
Bahceli said Turkey struggled for EU membership for more than 40 years, stressing that, ''there is no party which does not determine EU full membership as target. What is important is to be a full member of the EU in a way that suits to our nation.''
Touching on the EU issue, he said ''the name of this was said as fulfilment of three preconditions for giving Turkey a EU schedule. MHP stood against these three preconditions, including abolition of death sentence, education in mother tongue and broadcasting in mother tongue. Why are they insisting on these three issues when there are political and economic criteria? Why are some circles accepting these three conditions in order to join the EU,'' Bahceli said.
Claiming that the demands of the separatist terrorist organization was the same, Bahceli said, ''demands of those who try to divide Turkey coincided with the issues imposed by the EU. If these rights are granted, Turkey will have headaches in the future. Nobody is thinking this.''
Noting that Turkey was at a separation of road, Bahceli said, ''this separation of road will be between those who are in favour of Brussels and those who are in favour of Turkey.''
Upon a question about the foundation of a probable Kurdish state, Bahceli said, ''Turkey will never permit foundation of a Kurdish state. We have taken measures against every kind of development.''
Asked if Turkey would have losses in a probable U.S. intervention, Bahceli said, ''Turkey is a strong country. It is strong enough to deal with every kind of development.''
BAHCELI: IF AN OPERATION TAKES PLACE AGAINST IRAQ, AND IF A NEW SHAPE IS TO BE GIVEN TO IRAQ AGAIN, TURKEY SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THIS AS AN ACTIVE ELEMENT OF THIS ISSUE
Bahceli, said late on Friday that, ''if an intervention takes place against Iraq and if a new shape is to be given to Iraq again, Turkey should be involved in it as an active element of this issue.''
Bahceli spoke at a tv program in CNN Turk.
When reminded the statements of Kurdish leader Barzani that, ''we sat and decided. We made Kirkuk the capital city,'' Bahceli said Barzani spoke with the style of a tribe which does not have a historical and cultural state experience. Bahceli said nobody would accept that.
Pointing out that Iraq was an issue closely concerning Turkey, Bahceli said the United States thought of an operation aiming at changing the regime in that country.
Bahceli said, ''at the moment when this operation takes place, Turkey is obliged to implement a very careful and active policy. Turkey up to now approached the issue wishing that peace and stability should be provided by preserving Iraq's territorial integrity and unitary structure. However, if an operation is to take place against Iraq and if a new shape is to be given again to Iraq, Turkey should be involved in this as an active element of the issue. Turkey should not allow negative developments concerning the future of Turkey.''
When asked, ''will we enter Iraq, will we control Northern Iraq,'' Bahceli said Turkish state was thinking of and taking necessary measures against every possibility.
Stressing that possible operation of the United States against Iraq would be harmful to Turkey, Bahceli said, ''Turkey does not wish for the U.S. operation against Iraq.''
Bahceli said, ''if an operation takes place against Iraq, Turkey would show necessary sensitivity. Turkey will never allow any structurings in Northern Iraq like an independent Kurdish state. Turkey is in a position to evaluate well the incidents occuring within its own borders and near its borders also with its economic dimensions. It is either impossible for you to claim for a right from the results that would be obtained unless you are not at the table.''
YILMAZ: IF KIRKUK IS INCLUDED IN A PROBABLE KURDISH FEDERAL STATE AND SOME CLAIMS REGARDING KIRKUK COMES ONTO THE AGENDA, OF COURSE TURKEY WILL SHOW NECESSARY REACTION
Mesut Yilmaz said that if Kirkuk was included in a probable Kurdish federal state contrary to all historical indicators and if some claims regarding Kirkuk came onto the agenda, of course Turkey would show the necessary reaction to those developments.
Yilmaz responded to questions of reporters in a program broadcast at private Show Tv channel.
Upon a question, ''land units of Turkish Armed Forces have started a cross-border operation. Are you informed about it? Is this an operation against the region,'' Yilmaz said, ''there were some measures that we took there previously. I do not think there is a new situation.''
Asked what their attitude would be if a Kurdish state was founded in Northern Iraq, Yilmaz said, ''the Constitution foresees the conditions during which Turkish Armed Forces will stage cross-border operation. Under our Constitution, we have to get a permit from the parliament. The government has to apply to the parliament for a permission. The military measures that Turkey has to take here do not only aim to prevent some threats, and developments against national interests as it is thought. We faced some negative developments during the operation in 1991 like an inflow of immigration to Turkey.''
Yilmaz noted, ''there is a serious Turkmen existence to which Turkey attributes utmost importance. Protection of security of Turkmen existence in such a political gap and ensuring them have a right to speak in a probable political solution are Turkey's priorities. Of course, Turkey can use its military power as well as its political power to achieve its priorities.''
Upon another question, Yilmaz stated that if Iraq's territorial integrity was damaged and if a new ethnic-based independent state was formed in the region, Turkey would not permit it.
Yilmaz pointed out that this was not a new thing that Turkey was saying and it was a national policy of Turkey for years.
''There is a region where Turkmens are intensively living. If Kirkuk is included in a probable Kurdish federal state contrary to the historical indicators and if some claims regarding Kirkuk come onto the agenda, of course Turkey will show the necessary reaction to these developments,'' Yilmaz said.
When he was reminded that Barzani clearly said that their final target was an independent state, Yilmaz said, ''Talabani also made a statement today. He said that 'if a third country intervenes in Iraq, the United States will prevent it. It assured us about this issue.' It is not an easy thing to become an indepentent state.''
Yilmaz added, ''becoming an independent state is not a target to be achieved by only having the independence will. You may even say that you have founded an independent state, but if international community does not recognize your independence and accept your sovereignty, then your independence is worth nothing. Turkey has stated that it will not recognize a new independent state there. It is not possible for an independent state which Turkey does not recognize to stand on its feet there.''