MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on the Istanbul summit and Ankara’s possible stance concerning a possible US-led operation against Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:
Can the Istanbul summit find a peaceful solution to the Iraqi problem? The countries in the region, including Turkey, think that the danger of war is increasing with each passing day. Therefore they think that the Istanbul summit and possible future summits won’t be enough to avert a possible war. However, the common antiwar stance of the countries in the region, which gathered under Prime Minister Abdullah Gul’s initiative, is important. This stance will make the prospect of war breaking out more difficult and even if it can’t hold back the US, it will make Bush think twice.
The US posture is making it seem as if a war will break out any day now. Therefore following the Istanbul summit, Ankara will have to make some urgent decisions. For example, it will have to deal with the results of US inspections held at its airbases and seaports and the US requests concerning them. The US will request permission for additional investments and arrangements necessary to upgrade these facilities. Ankara must decide whether it will give permission for the construction and other work. If Turkey does give this permission, what might this lead to?
At this point, the soldiers expect the government to make a decision in Parliament on the issue of permission. However, the government doesn’t seem to be willing to include Parliament. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Parliament aren’t welcoming the US requests. The political leadership is looking for ways to meet this request without having to go through Parliament by, for example, carrying out the work within the framework of NATO. This alternative is being discussed. There’s a general opinion that work carried out under NATO wouldn’t require Parliament’s approval. However, if the NATO mechanism is used, certain unpleasant results could emerge. For example, Britain and Greece acting together under NATO’s umbrella. That’s why the military wing prefers Parliament making the decision.
Turkey’s decision on this issue will be an indicator of other decisions on the US operation. If Turkey says yes to the US concerning its airbases and seaports, then it would also be signaling that it may well give a green light to stationing or allowing passage of US soldiers. Otherwise the impression will be that it won’t give such permission. Earlier, the military leadership declared that it was impossible for them to act without first getting go-ahead from the political leadership. Ankara’s first decision will be about its airbases and seaports. Its decision on this issue will go quite far in clarifying Turkey’s overall stance.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION