STAR- Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli comments on her recent conversation with US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson. A summary of her column is as follows:
The looming possibility of an operation against Iraq, Turkey’s reluctance to support the US and the rapid succession of high-ranking visitors to Ankara are all raising questions in people’s minds. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson and ask him about these matters. Our top issue was the US’s view of today’s summit in Istanbul to be attended by the foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Pearson said that Washington certainly supported this meeting. Stating that the US had warned Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein many times but to no avail, Pearson said, ‘Maybe a warning from its neighbors will convince Baghdad to get rid of its weapons of mass destruction this time.’ And what about the recent visit to Baghdad of a trade delegation led by State Minister Kursad Tuzmen? How much did this visit irritate Washington? Contrary to reports in the Turkish press, the Washington administration was more interested in the message Tuzmen conveyed to Saddam than by the delegation’s actual visit. He told Washington about Turkey’s message to Saddam. According to Pearson, this message, which urged Saddam to comply with United Nations’ resolutions and cooperate with the weapons inspectors, pleased Washington. The US supported this message, Pearson told me candidly.
The main issue bothering the US right now, in fact, seems to be Ankara’s refusal so far to permit US soldiers to be stationed on Turkish territory. Choosing his words carefully, Pearson said, ‘On the one hand, there are Turkey’s worries, and on the other, there is the US’ determination. Our meetings are aimed at finding a way between these.’ Pearson also told me about what sort of soldiers would be stationed in Turkey: they won’t only be logistical in nature, some of them will certainly be slated for combat duty. According to Pearson, the purpose of this will be to make Saddam think twice, comply with the UN resolutions and understand that this time the US means business. Pearson also emphasized that following US military officials’ inspections of certain Turkish airbases and harbors, Turkish and US officials will discuss which of these facilities will be upgraded to US standards. He said this upgrading could cost some $200 million, depending on which harbors and airports Turkey will open for US use.
It’s my understanding that a recent letter from Prime Minister Abdullah Gul to US President George W. Bush unambiguously indicated that the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) grassroots were opposed to any operation against Iraq and so there is no way for Turkey to accept all of the US requests on the issue. Reportedly, this letter made waves in Washington. Don’t take the reports of the US press too seriously. US officials have already recognized that Turkey is a democratic country, and so decisions here aren’t taken so easily.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION