ANKARA - The General Staff said on Wednesday that equipment would be sent to the region under control of the Second Army Command.
A statement of the General Staff said, ''we have to make our units in the region prepared beforehand for possible developments. To this end, we will start to send equipment and materials to the region starting from today.''
The statement added, ''this dispatch, which will be made as a precautionary measure, should not be perceived as if a possible operation was close, as if Turkey would take place in this operation and as if the General Staff was making a deployment in the region to this end.''

WAIT FOR SUBMISSION OF FINAL REPORT OF WEAPONS INSPECTORS
Foreign Ministry spokesman Yusuf Buluc said on Wednesday that Turkey was waiting for submission of the final report of the weapons inspectors.
Buluc told the weekly press briefing that weapons inspection process in Iraq would end with submission of the final report.
Report of Hans Blix, the head of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspections Commission (UNMOVIC) and Mohamed El Baradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), would be evaluated at the meeting of the U.N. Security Council, Buluc said.
Buluc noted that tendencies of the Security Council would be seen at that meeting.
Turkey and the international community expected Iraq to totally abide by the U.N. Security Council Resolution No 1,441 and have active cooperation with inspectors, Buluc stated.
Buluc said, ''this expectation was clearly noted down in the joint declaration issued after the foreign ministers meeting on Iraq held in Istanbul on January 23. As the prime minister stated, it is obvious that a critical stage has started regarding Iraqi issue. Iraq has to use this opportunity to show its active cooperation and to use the time efficiently. As foreseen in the U.N. Security Council resolution, the inspection process will end with submission of the final report. Turkey, as well as other countries, await presentation of the final report.''
Asked about the news stories that Patriot missiles would be deployed in Turkey under the auspices of NATO, Buluc said that NATO members committed that efforts for a peaceful solution of the Iraqi issue would be efficiently supported during the Prague Summit.
Buluc noted that NATO Council evaluated how that commitment would be fulfilled and added, ''in this context, deliberations continue on the package presented on January 15 by the United States regarding proposals about the role that NATO can play. An important part of security measures in this package are related with supporting Turkey's defense measures. To this end, Turkey supports this package.''

BULUC: DEPUTY PM OF IRAQ STATES THAT IRAQ DOES NOT WANT A POSSIBLE CLASH TO SPREAD BEYOND ITS TERRITORIES
When asked to evaluate Aziz's statement that they would consider countries which opened its territories to U.S. troops as a target, Buluc said, ''Turkey has mobilized all its possibilities to find a peaceful solution to Iraqi issue and to push aside military choices. It has functionalized its efficient diplomacy with a regional initiative and is a country which is a friend of Iraqi people. Mr. Aziz is aware of these efforts of us and our will. In a former statement, Aziz said that Iraq does not intent a possible clash to spread beyond its territories. The reasons of this intention of Aziz are obvious.''
Upon a question, Buluc said that the military authorities debated demands of the United States from Turkey in case of an operation against Iraq and noted, ''a result has not been taken. Our discussions on legitimacy, which is one of the priorities of our policy, continue.''
Buluc stated that at what extent legitimacy had been achieved and the decision about that issue would be made by the parliament.
Parliament would take into consideration requirements of article 92 of the Constitution when taking such a decision, Buluc said.
Asked if Britain had a military demand from Turkey, Buluc said, ''consultations between military authorities continue only with the United States. I am not concerned abut the demands of Britain from Turkey. However, it is obvious that we have some reservations about possible demands and some of these reservations stem from our historical experiences.''