MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on the conditions Turkey has set concerning its support for a possible US military operation against Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:
We’ve seen a virtual flood of visitors to Ankara in recent days: US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman, British Foreign Minister Jack Straw, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and the International Monetary Fund delegation… The Iraq issue, the European Union, Cyprus and our economy are all on the agenda. The Iraqi issue was topic A in the contacts with Wolfowitz and Grossman. The Americans are looking for an answer to their new military scenario envisioning an attack against Iraq from the north. This plan, which was conveyed to Turkish officials in the US and in Ankara, depends on Turkey’s support. As part of this plan, which envisages a land operation against Iraq from the Turkish border, the US is asking Turkey for permission to use 10 airports and Mediterranean harbors and for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to help out with its soldiers. During Wolfowitz and Grossman’s contacts yesterday, Ankara reiterated its view that it favors solving the problem without the need for a military operation but that if need be, Turkey’s economic losses should be compensated and military and political security concerning northern Iraq should be guaranteed. If an operation from the north is carried out, what are Ankara’s conditions for the US requests to be met? They are as follows:
1. Turkey’s losses from a war coming from the north would amount to approximately $20-25 billion. Ankara wants the US to compensate for these losses. In addition, Ankara thinks that this should be done not through ‘indirect aid’ dependent on US congressional legislation, but rather from the US Defense Department. Ankara told the US as much.
2. The US should not allow the establishment of a Kurdish state in northern Iraq. If a federation is established in Iraq, the Turkmens there should have the same status as the Kurds.
3. Peshmergas shouldn’t be used or armed during the operation, for the sake of the security of the Turkmens and Arabs in the region.
4. Security and control in northern Iraq should be left to Turkey. During these contacts, Ankara told Wolfowitz and Grossman that the US should increase its pressure on the EU to give a date to Turkey at the Copenhagen summit this month. If a military operation becomes inevitable and if it comes from the north, Ankara doesn’t favor the establishment of British control in the region. Turkey is also requesting that the TSK have control over Turkey’s security. The TSK seems to favor that in case of a military operation, it will have an active position for Turkey’s security and interests. Just as during the Gulf War, it doesn’t just want to just sit and watch developments from the border. However, it is paying attention to the acceptance and guarantee of Ankara’s conditions by the US. Of course Turkey would prefer to solve the problem without the need for a military operation.