ANKARA - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said on Tuesday that when looking at developments, it was seen that Turkey was being dragged to a military operation and that the government started to support it without an international legitimacy ground that was formed.
Addressing his group meeting, Baykal said that Turkey actively took a decision to be a part of a military operation against Iraq by allowing its bases to be examined and noted that Turkey has entered a very critical and significant period. Baykal stated that the government's understanding and policies started to reveal in recent weeks.
Noting that Iraq problem has acquired a shape, Baykal said that armed clash was tried to be prevented in international platforms. He added that views were put forward that if a military operation was necessary, it should be staged with international solidarity.
Noting that Turkey had considered international laws the basis so far and it should continue to do so, Baykal said, ''Turkey is not a pirate state. Turkey is a responsible state which considers good relations with its neighbors important and fulfills what is required with this objective.''
Stating that this understanding was the basic principle of the history of the Republic, Baykal said that this understanding should be maintained.
Stressing that the state's loyalty to basic principles was tested in critical periods, Baykal said, ''if we manage to protect these principles in such periods, then the world considers us a serious, distinguished and institutionalized state which acts in line with principles. Now, we are approaching such a testing point. Turkey should maintain its sensitivity about the point of international laws. Turkey is not alone in this sensitivity. Turkey should act carefully. Turkey should not be orientated by leaving aside its historical route due to fait accomplis, instant satisfactions and concerns. We have to be serious and responsible.''
Baykal stated that Turkey was being dragged into a military operation before formation of an international legitimacy basis and that the government had accepted this and started to contribute to this process.
Baykal stated that it was easy to mention basis of international legitimacy, yet that implementation of this is difficult in such complicated relations.
Baykal said, ''people began to express concerns saying 'to what extend we could preserve those in practice'. There is not the basis of international legitimacy. The U.N. representatives continue studies. This issue has not yet been discussed in the U.N. Security Council. The U.N. does not have a new evaluation regarded with studies of weapons inspection. We began to take concrete steps for an active military operation as if we all passed those stages. This shows that we fail to take it serious the fundamental claim regarding international legitimacy, and fail to give importance to implement it, and that we have an understanding that we say and fulfil our task just because it is expected from us. This is not right.''
''Turkey's becoming a part of the headquarters in a military operation against Iraq, its taking place in the planning of such an operation, and its being informed on targets, methods and levels of the operation are out of question. Turkey was just asked to make a concrete cooperation. And the Turkish side has been discussing whether or not to make this contribution. Making such contributions has a deep meaning. If we start making contributions, we will have undertaken a serious responsibility. And, this responsibility will have some extremely serious dangers. I do not share the hope that assessment of all these are being made in a encouraging way,'' he said.
Baykal said, ''Turkey was asked to permit inspection of bases for their use in a possible military operation against Iraq.''
Baykal asked what will be the target of the operation and what will be the responsibilities of Turkey in this operation, adding ''What will be the situation after the ending of operation? How will our expectations be responded?'' He said that Turkey was asked to permit first inspection that will automatically provide upgrading of bases without receiving any serious information about these subjects. He added ''that Turkey silently gave this permission without informing people, parliament and opposition party. With this permission, Turkey de facto took the decision of participating in a military operation against Iraq. Because this cooperation has following steps. The bases will be taken a shape that can be used for a new aim.''
Noting that this can be done only by a new base negotiation, Baykal said that Turkey should be careful against such important events, adding that it was inevitable that cooperations which are not attributed necessary attention cause significant results.
Baykal said that Turkey should plan its attitude by foreseeing the future and by taking necessary precautions when it can't foresee the future, adding that there is a search not to incite public reaction in this case.
Baykal said that ''timid and shy steps'' were taken in giving the permission for examination of bases and added that those steps will bring further responsibilities and relations to Turkey.