ANKARA - Parliamentary General Assembly allowed the government on Thursday to carry out necessary arrangements about deployment of U.S. technical and military personnel in Turkey for three months for modernization, development and construction of military bases and ports.
Parliamentary General Assembly convened under the chairmanship of Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, and debated the Prime Ministry motion.
The motion says, ''continuation of problems stemming from Iraq's failure to fulfill its commitments in the sanction and control regime of the United Nations following the Gulf War in 1990, has given rise to emergence of an atmosphere of tension and crisis. This situation has affected Turkey negatively and posed a serious risk of security. As a result of latest developments on the issue of weapons of mass destruction, the situation has become more tense, and the Iraq issue has come to a sensitive level. The United Nations Security Council considered the issue a long-lasting and serious threat against international peace and security and ruled that Iraq's fulfilling its commitments and conditions of the official cease-fire after the Gulf War was necessary for protection of international peace and security.''
''Recent developments have proved that the Iraq issue has come to a critical point. Protection of Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity and continuation of Iraq's existence as a factor of stability in our sensitive region are of great importance. Turkey wants the Iraq issue to be solved peacefully without any international military intervention. The 58th government has been expending efforts to this end. While all opportunities have been mobilized for a peaceful solution, Turkey's preparing itself against all kinds of developments is of vital importance. It is necessary to carry out preparatory works in order to follow a policy in line with Turkey's fundamental rights and interests and its international responsibilities and to take all necessary measures in time. Therefore, our government seeks authority from the parliament about deployment of U.S. technical and military personnel in Turkey for three months for modernization, development and construction of bases and ports in accordance with Article 92 of the Constitution,'' the motion says.
While 308 deputies cast their votes in favor of the motion, 193 others rejected it. 9 deputies cast abstaining votes.