SEZER: “SHOULD AN UNSTABLE SITUATION EMERGE IN IRAQ, TURKEY WOULD MOVE TO PROTECT ITS INTERESTS”
President Ahmet Necet Sezer said yesterday that if a war leads to an unstable situation in northern Iraq, Turkey would do whatever is necessary to protect its rights and interests. Addressing a delegation from the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD), Sezer emphasized that from the very beginning Turkey had been opposed to a war but that the nation was also ready to act against any contingency in the region which threatened its security. /Cumhuriyet/
GUL MEETS WITH MGK SECRETARY-GENERAL TO DISCUSS IRAQ
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with National Security Council (MGK) Secretary-General Gen. Tuncer Kilinc to discuss the latest developments in a possible US-led operation against Iraq. Also present at the meeting was MGK Deputy Secretary-General Gen. Baki Ustundag. No press statement was made after the meeting. /Turkiye/
CHENEY PHONES GUL, URGES PREMIER FOR QUICK DECISION ON IRAQ
Ahead of a possible war against Iraq, US Vice President Dick Cheney phoned Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday. Cheney reportedly urged the premier to speedily push a resolution through Parliament this week on US requests of Turkey, such as upgrading Turkish airbases and ports as well as stationing US troops in the country for a possible northern front into Iraq. In related news, the Justice and Development (AKP) government is due to bring a proposal onto Parliament’s agenda tomorrow regarding US upgrades and construction at the airbases and ports Washington wants to use. /Hurriyet/
IRAQI OPPOSITION LEADERS TO CONFER WITH TURKISH OFFICIALS
Leaders of several Iraqi opposition groups arrived in Ankara yesterday to discuss a possible US-led military campaign against Iraq. Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani, Iraqi Turkmen Front Chairman Sanan Ahmet Aga, and Necirvan Barzani, the nephew of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani as well as prime minister of the so-called regional Kurdistan government, are all scheduled to meet with Turkish Foreign Ministry officials tomorrow to confer on a post-Saddam period and the future of northern Iraq as well as Mosul and Kirkuk, two oil-rich provinces in the region. Zalmay Halilzad, a special envoy from US President George W. Bush, will also be present at the meetings. /Star/
ERDOGAN: “IF IT COMES TO WAR, TURKEY MUST PARTICIPATE TO PROTECT ITS INTERESTS AND SECURITY”
The region is on the brink of war despite Turkey’s efforts, and now the nation must make difficult decisions in order to protect its best interests and security, proclaimed ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. Speaking at his party’s group meeting, Erdogan said Turkey was duty bound to support a US-led operation against Iraq for the nation’s own good. “Our government will make the best decision for the nation,” he stated. “If Turkey shrinks from supporting the US in case of a war, then it would be difficult for us to play a role in the postwar reconstruction process of the region.” /Milliyet/
CHP LEADER BAYKAL TAKES STAND AGAINST STAGING US TROOPS IN TURKEY
Addressing his party’s group meeting in Parliament yesterday, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal said that Turkey should in no way allow US troops to be stationed in the country. Taking sharp exception to Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement yesterday that Turkey had to participate in an operation against Iraq so as to protect its national interests, Baykal said, “You can win a war with missiles, but you can’t establish your political power upon them.” Baykal added that the CHP did not want Turkey to be used as a US headquarters for a northern front into Iraq. /Cumhuriyet/
LINDH: “SWEDEN OPPOSES A KURDISH STATE BEING FOUNDED IN NORTHERN IRAQ”
Appearing on Turkish news channel NTV yesterday, visiting Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh said that her country didn’t want a Kurdish state to be founded in northern Iraq after a possible US-led war against Saddam Hussein’s regime. Lindh added, however, that the region should continue to be autonomous and that there was no need to change its present borders. Northern Iraq is currently under regional Kurdish administration and US and British protection as a “no-fly” zone. Turkey should make its own decision whether to participate in an operation or not, continued Lindh, as it could face various difficulties if war comes. As for Sweden, she said, it would abide by the UN Security Council’s decisions. /Aksam/
DENKTAS: “I CANNOT SIGN THE UN CYPRUS PLAN WITHOUT CHANGES BEING MADE”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday called it “impossible” for him to sign the United Nations Cyprus plan without making certain changes being made to it, charging that in its current form it violated the rights of the island’s Turks. Denktas said that he had proposed some changes to the plan, but that during their latest meeting Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides had come with new territorial demands instead of proposing changes. Denktas added that he wouldn’t sign the plan even if the Turkish Cypriot nation wanted him to. “I won’t sign a plan which would hurt our nation three or five years down the line, and there is no obligation for me to do so,” added Denktas. “I serve the nation’s interests, but I am not its servant.” /Turkiye/
TUSIAD CHAIRMAN OZILHAN URGES ERDOGAN TO CONTINUE FIGHT AGAINST INFLATION
Tuncay Ozilhan, chairman of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD), yesterday visited ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the economy as well political and international issues such as Cyprus, Iraq, and Turkey’s European Union membership bid. Speaking after their talks, Ozilhan said that he had urged Erdogan to continue the government’s anti-inflation efforts, adding that last year the rate had been brought down to 30%, but that it needed to go down still further. TUSIAD will continue to counsel the government on economic issues, Ozilhan concluded. /Milliyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION