Buyukanit: I Attribute Great Importance To Denktas's Evaluations

ANKARA - Deputy Chief of General Staaff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said on Wednesday that he attributed great importance to the evaluations of President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), stressing that he believed that there is injustice against Denktas in Turkey and in Cyprus.
Gen. Buyukanit said his individual evaluation regarding Annan Plan was that: The map seems to be a map which was made with those who prepared the plan and the Greek Cypriots.
Gen. Buyukanit also said nobody told Turkey to ''open front from the North and fight against Iraq'' regarding possible operation against Iraq, stating that nobody in Turkey said ''let us make war''.
Gen. Buyukanit responded to the questions of reporters in a press cocktail.
When asked about Cyprus issue, Gen. Buyukanit said he attributed great importance to the evaluations of TRNC President Denktas, adding that there was injustice against Denktas both in Turkey and in Cyprus.
Gen. Buyukanit said, ''I believe that injustice was made which history could not forgive. Turkish Armed Forces is of the same opinion. Mr. Denktas says it was impossible for him to go till February 28. I share his ideas.''
Gen. Buyukanit said there were people in Turkey who made comments on Cyprus issue before reading the plan. ''This is very dangerous. They don't know what the plan has. Comments that would be made on Cyprus issue without understanding the issue would lead to wrong results. We should be careful.''
When a journalist recalled that according to Annan's plan, existence of Turkish soldiers in Cyprus would be decreased, Gen. Buyukanit said, ''if that plan is put into implementation, the remaining limited number of Turkish soldiers would ask for permission from the U.N. to go out of their barracks. The plan has those provisions. There are compensation cases against Turkish Cypriots. Those have not been discussed.''
Gen. Buyukanit said, ''My personal evaluation is that: The map seems to be a map which was made together with those who prepared the plan and the Greek Cypriots. It is a map which was prepared consciously in military and economic means. We are unable to explain those to public.''
Responding to a question asking how he evaluated the preparations regarding a possible operation of the United States against Iraq, Gen. Buyukanit said, ''I think if the United States becomes successful with this show of force, and overcome the Saddam regime, the problem can be solved without war. However, if it fails to overcome the Saddam regime, there will be war.''
Here are the questions and answers of Gen. Buyukanit regarding Iraqi issue.
Question: Is there any hope for peace?
Gen. Buyukanit: It seems difficult. It is difficult as long as Saddam stays there. Their mentality is very different. Tariq Aziz came to Turkey during the period of 57th government. Mr. Ecevit told Aziz that they should from now on take steps regarding democratization. Aziz said, ''Iraq is a full democracy. This is a propaganda of the United States. You are under the influence of the United states.''
Question: Is there a need for Parliamentary decision to meet refugee inflow?
Answer: Of course...
Question: There is a decision which had earlier been taken regarding Afghanistan issue.
Answer: This will be to force the law. The parliament should take a decision. Saying it would not interfere in it, is also a decision. We always say 'even the worst decision is better than being indecisive''. Because we have the chance to adjust the bad decisions, but we don't have this chance in indecisiveness.''
Question: Do you believe that democratization process will begin in the Middle East?
Answer: It is very difficult in the short term. We are exerting efforts for 80 years. We still have difficulties.''
Question: Can Turkish-Israeli alliance play the role of dynamo to accelerate democracy?
Answer: Israel is a model whose existence is not accepted by the Arab world. Turkey is the only example here. However, we should put ourselves in order. Otherwise we may be a bad example.
Question: What does the United States demand?
Answer: They had wanted to open front from the north during Gulf operation. Now that they say they want support from us.
Question: Are their demands lighter when compared with the Gulf War?
Answer: Of course. They don't tell Turkey to open a front from the north, enter Iraq and fight with Iraq. Similarly, nobody in Turkey say 'let us make war'. They say they want to deploy their elements and make us of ports.
Question: Do you say those are acceptable?
Answer: No, I don't say. This is totally a political decision. As military, we want to stop possible refugee inflow in Northern Iraq not to experience the difficulty which we had experienced during the Gulf operation. This is a humanitarian aid operation. We want to agree with the groups in the North, get their support and prevent refugee inflow there. Nobody tells us to go and make war in Mousul, Kirkuk, and Baghdad.
Question: Do you make your preparations according to this?
Answer: We make plans against any possibility. If you try to make plans after eruption of war, you will be late.
Question: What about decision taking?
Answer: It will be beneficial for Turkey's interests to take the decisions early.
Question: Do we have Mousul-Kirkuk problem?
Answer: We don't have problem. It is an issue that can be exploited. We should think more and speak less.
Question: Do you have a study about Mousul-Kirkuk?
Answer: We don't have such a study. This is not our job.
Question: Are the talks underway with the Americans who would come for site survey?
Answer: We wanted those who would come to Turkey to be included in Turkish legal system. Secondly, they should compensate the loses that would be inflicted on third sides.