Ecevit: Possibility Of A Military Operation Gradually Increases

ANKARA - Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said on Tuesday that possibility of a military operation in Iraq increased gradually, stressing that, ''even if we are not involved in the operation, unfortunately the measures which the United States would take in our border region, and the operation it will launch, will make us enter the war.''
Ecevit responded to the questions of A.A correspondent regarded with ''possible Iraqi operation''. Stating that possibility of a military operation gradually increased, Ecevit said he felt concern over this and noted that, ''we want peace in our region''.
Ecevit said there might be a need to take some precautions against Iraq which had made very big mistakes in the past, adding that Turkey had taken the situation under control in Iraq by using Incirlik Base by working together with the United States.
Ecevit said he did not think that there was a need to open war against Iraq, noting that, ''even if we are not involved in the operation, unfortunately the measures which the United States will take in the border region and the operation it would launch in the border region would put Turkey in the war.''
Ecevit said they felt concern over loss of life and destruction of the Turkish economy.
When asked how he evaluated the idea of deployment of U.S. Land Forces in Turkey and opening a front in the North, Ecevit said, ''it is clear that they have not yet reached an agreement with the government. To this end, I am not in a position to say anything.''