Meeting On Iraq At Presidential Palace

ANKARA - The meeting about the issue of Iraq at the Cankaya Presidential Palace ended. The meeting under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer lasted for about two hours. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, and General Staff Operation Department Chairman General Koksal Karabay were in attendance at the meeting.
ILDEM: SOME REQUESTS OF THE UNITED STATES ENTAIL DECISION OF PARLIAMENT UNDER INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY SOUGHT BY ARTICLE 92 OF THE CONSTITUTION
Presidential Foreign Affairs Chief Adviser Tacan Ildem said on Friday, ''some requests of the United States about a possible military operation against Iraq entail decision of the parliament. We all know that it was difficult for the parliament to take such a decision about a situation in absence of a second decision of the United Nations Security Council to approve beginning of the operation. Even the U.S. administration has not taken a decision about the situation.''
Addressing journalists at the Cankaya Presidential Palace about the meeting held under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on the issue of Iraq, Ildem said, ''requests of the United States about a possible military operation against Iraq were taken up during the meeting held under the chairmanship of President Sezer. And decisions taken at the meeting were conveyed to the U.S. side.''
''Comments claiming that Turkey is hesitant, are baseless. Turkey has responded some requests of the United States in the affirmative without undertaking any commitments under possibility planning. Site survey efforts have been continuing in some bases, airports and ports under the permission of our state. Meanwhile, some requests of the United States about a possible military operation against Iraq entail decision of the parliament under international legitimacy sought by Article 92 of the Constitution. We all know that it was difficult for the parliament to take such a decision about a situation in absence of a second decision of the United Nations Security Council to approve beginning of the operation. Even the U.S. administration has not taken a decision about the situation. Naturally, even if Turkey's condition of international legitimacy is met, Turkey's contributions to such an operation will be limited due to Turkey's position in the region and its neighborly relations with Iraq,'' he added.
ILDEM: SOME DEMANDS OF UNITED STATES ABOUT POSSIBLE MILITARY OPERATION HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND OUR REPLIES HAVE BEEN CONVEYED TO U.S. SIDE''
Ildem recalled that Turkey had been expressing its belief that the Iraqi administration had great responsibilities in fully implementation of the U.N. Security Council's no:1441 resolution that aimed to purify Iraq from mass-destruction weapons, preventing occurrence of a military operation that might lead to a regional instability.
Stressing that the Iraqi administration's displaying an active cooperation which would help U.N. weapon inspectors finalize their works in a way that proved purification of Iraq from mass destruction weapons was very important, Ildem said, ''Turkey still maintains its belief that the problem would be solved through peaceful ways. Peaceful methods have not been completely exhausted yet. Besides, all relevant sides should give peace a chance. As a neighboring country of Iraq in the region, Turkey will continue exerting efforts to this end. With this respect, steps are targeted to be taken within solidarity and cooperation with the regional countries that Mr. Prime Minister has recently visited. There has not been any change in Turkey's position towards a military operation against Iraq. For us, international legitimacy and agreement continue to be the basic factors. Regarding international legitimacy, we continue to believe that there is a need for a second U.N. Security Council resolution in addition to the no:1441 resolution. It is clear that international agreement means formation of a broad-based coalition.''
Recalling that there was a comprehensive cooperation between Turkey and the United States that spread a number fields and served joint interests of the two countries, Ildem said that Turkey had the will to further strengthen this cooperation that was defined as strategic partnership.
Ildem said, ''as a necessity of this partnership, we continue regular consultations on important regional and international issues. These consultations are being held in political, economic and military levels. We also evaluate the situation related with Iraq with U.S. authorities in this context. Some demands of the United States about a possible military operation against Iraq have sometimes been reviewed in meetings held under the chairmanship of the President and with participation of relevant authorities and our responses have been conveyed to the United States.''
''Comments that Turkey is indecisive don't reflect the facts. It is known that Turkey has given a positive response to some of the U.S. demands without undertaking any obligation and within the framework of a possibility planning. Site-surveys in several air bases, airports and ports have been carried out under the permission we have given. Some of the U.S. demands necessitate a parliamentary decision on the ground of international legitimacy required by the Article 92 of the Constitution,'' Ildem noted.
Ildem went on saying, ''It should be known that parliament would have difficulty making a decision in the absence of a second ruling for the start of an operation. Even the U.S. administration has not taken a decision about the situation. Naturally, it will be realistic to expect that the contribution Turkey can consider giving to a possible operation, if it meets international law, will be limited because of its historic ties to a neighbor and Turkey's status in the region.''
''Moreover, Turkey continues in the military and technical level the possibility planning launched by the United States as a need of a demand which it has given a positive response and this is an important contribution. This stance of Turkey is being appreciated by the U.S. administration,'' Ildem said.
Ildem added, ''we sincerely hope that the issue will be solved peacefully without any need for a military operation that will negatively affect regional stability. When Turkey is supporting peaceful efforts, it does not neglect necessary preparations against any kind of possibility in order to prevent harm of its national interests. Calm evaluation of the issue is being made in the highest level by taking into consideration our national interests and the sensitivity of the international community.''
ILDEM: THERE IS NOT ANY RECOMMENDATION ABOUT SENDING IRAQI ADMINISTRATION TO ANOTHER COUNTRY FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION OF ISSUE
Responding to a question saying, ''a meeting is foreseen to be held in Istanbul and a declaration is mentioned. How were these efforts evaluated at the meeting,'' Ildem said that Prime Minister Abdullah Gul paid a visit to regional countries in previous days.
Ildem noted that they thought that it would be beneficial if Turkey undertook such an initiative in the light of the exchange of views made during Gul's tour to the region.
''Likewise, contacts related with a joint statement as a part of this initiative were held not only through our embassies in the concerned countries but also by invitation of the ambassadors of the relevant countries to the Foreign Ministry for a meeting with Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal on Thursday. After learning views and evaluations of the relevant countries about this meeting in coming days and after being informed about the level of participation, the format of the meeting would become clearer. This issue also came onto the agenda in today's meeting. To this end, this is continued as a coordinated activity,'' Ildem said.
Asked if Turkey had a formula about solution of the issue through peaceful means, Ildem said, ''it is not appropriate and possible to clearly inform you about this issue which is a part of Turkey's consultations with relevant countries. But, Turkey believes that all peaceful methods have not been exhausted yet. Turkey wants all parties to support peaceful efforts without losing common sense and give an opportunity to peace. This is what we are trying to do. That is, we are not trying to assume a new attitude against any attitude here. In fact, the United States has always stated that it prefers a peaceful solution. The United States is also informed about these efforts of us.''
When a reporter said that the United States applied to NATO for Turkey's protection and asked if Turkey would want such a support, Ildem underlined the importance that Turkey attributed to peaceful solution of the issue.
Ildem said, ''if it reaches that point, Turkey should take into consideration some possibilities. When our NATO alliance is taken into consideration, it will not be a very wrong move to take into consideration NATO in these possibilities.''
Replying another question, Ildem said that U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers's visit to Turkey would be at military and technical level. He said that although today's summit meeting at the Presidential Palace had been held prior to Myers's visit, there was not any connection between reason of today's meeting and Myers's visit.
Responding a question which said, ''you've said that Iraq has great responsibilities in solution of the issue through peaceful ways. Is a higher-level visit from Turkey to Iraq possible in order to express this directly or is there such a plan?'' Ildem said, ''at the moment, such a thing is out of question. On several occasions, we conveyed our messages through several means to the Iraqi administration. We continue to convey our messages if we see it necessary.''
When asked how much leaving of current Iraqi administration for another country was important for peaceful solution of the issue, Ildem said, ''I cannot comment on this issue. Turkey has not made such a recommendation.''
Replying a question which said, ''you've said that your contribution would be limited even if international legitimacy was met. What is Turkey's red line about its contribution to an operation?'' Ildem said, ''Turkey is a country in this region. Turkey's relations with both Iraq and other countries in the region have root deep in history. As it is regional country, Turkey plays a role and occupies a position. When we take all of these into consideration, there are limits in a support that Turkey extends to a possible military operation. These limits stem from both Turkey's deep historical ties with Iraq and its role and position in the region.''
When asked whether or not use of bases in Turkey would be automatically in question in case of approval of the United States's application to the NATO, Ildem said, ''No, I don't suppose so.''
Noting that it would be appropriate to think that the operation would not be a NATO operation, Ildem said, ''the NATO can undertake assisting function. However, I don't suppose that this would reach a point of being a NATO operation.''