ANKARA - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said on Friday that the parliament took the first step in taking part in a possible operation against Iraq by the decision it took about use of its bases.
''This is Turkey's putting forward its decision that it would take part in the military operation of the U.S. in Iraq by its highest political will,'' said Baykal responding to questions of journalists.
When asked what the decision taken by the parliament yesterday about use of bases in the parliament meant, Baykal said that ''the parliament took the first step of the process that goes to war, and it switched the button because the motion of the government was prepared in line with Article 92 of the Constitution and this article talks about declaration of war, meaning that this decision was taken in line with the general understanding of Article 92's declaration of war. As a result of that decision, an investment of 100 million dollars will be undertaken in Turkey and the only means of using that investment is the military operation against Iraq. This investment is made due to that operation. Giving permission to that also means giving permission to that operation. It is not possible to say that 'we will permit the modernization studies in these bases, but we won't permit deployment of soldiers.' This is a contradiction... In fact, an appointment has been given for Feb. 18. It has been told to the U.S. that the permission to deploy U.S. soldiers would be given on February 18...''
Noting that this decision is a turning point and that it would cause very important developments, Baykal said that ''we told that Turkey's being drifted to such a fait accompli and its taking part in a process with U.S. and Britain that will cause chaos and uncertainties in the Middle East won't be in line with the short and long term interests of Turkey and we cast our votes in this line.''
When asked how CHP would vote for the second motion on Feb 18, Baykal said that ''it is very clear, we are against Turkey's being drifted to a war by not taking into consideration its needs and benefits. We don't approve that. We will say 'no' to the motion on Feb. 18.''
''What the government tells is that they didn't take a decision for war yet, noting that they will do so on Feb. 18. What we tell is that the decision the parliament took yesterday is the decision that will drift Turkey to a war. I told its reasons, the decision was taken in line with Article 92 of the Constitution... A promise has been given to the U.S. and an appointment has been given for Feb. 18 and the permission has been given for an investment of 100 million dollars. After giving that permission, it is not possible not to adopt the second motion. The issue of whether a war will break out or not depends on other factors. I hope a miracle takes place and the war won't take place. But the government does not have the alternative of not entering the war. They made the parliament approve it and announced it to the whole world. We are the only parliament which took this decision. The U.S. has not taken such a decision yet, the U.S. President waits for the developments. Britain didn't take the decision of war, but we did. There are three countries in the world which engaged themselves to war. One of them is Turkey. The others are U.S. and Britain. The two have oil interests, they have traditional interest in the region.''
Baykal said that government and AK Party leader were in contradiction and that contradiction was reflected to their attitude. He added that the contradiction existed between what they had done earlier and what they were doing now and between the policy they had been carried on for a while and the war of which they were on the brink now.
Noting that the government made its choice, Baykal said that they did not chose public opinion and their earlier statements and long term benefits of Turkey, but they preferred power balance of the world and direction of the United States and they contradicted with public opinion, their earlier statements and commitments.
Baykal said that his party assumed a soft stance, with an understanding of showing tolerance to ruling power in the difficult milieu of Turkey and the world and for creating a hopeful milieu for the solution of economic problems. He added that following that policy did not mean that they might not assume the most determined and hardest attitude if benefits of country was in question. He said that they naturally had a serious attitude in that issue and added that ruling power got used to soft policy of opposition party which had been continuing for a few months and they thought it would continue like that, but it would not.
Noting that AK Party would fulfill the necessities of being a ruling power, Baykal said that AK Party could not give up their responsibilities by attacking opposition party and he added that they should do their duty.
Baykal said that public evaluated realities very well and added that Turkey was evaluating long term benefits and problems very well. He said that people were evaluating foreign problems with a very serious understanding.
Noting that people saw the realities very well in spite of impositions, Baykal said that public did not want the war and followed the evaluations for the period after war in an ironical way.
When asked his evaluations about closed session, Baykal said that each of them knew each sentence which was talked in the closed session and no secret evaluation was made and no new word was said. He added that there was no situation which could show secrecy right.
Baykal said that AK party was embarrassed and they held a closed session to hide their embarrassment. He added that closed session was not enough to hide the embarrassment and AK Party members could not listen their conscience and could not put forth their real choice.