GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DISCUSS IRAQ ISSUE
Government officials headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday convened to hold a comprehensive discussion on the Iraq issue. Following the three-and-a-half hour summit, State Minister and government spokesman Abdullatif Sener said that Yasar Yakis and Ali Babacan, foreign minister and state minister for the economy respectively, had briefed the participants on their just-completed visit to Washington. Stating that the stances of the United Nations, NATO and the European Union towards the issue had all been discussed, Sener added that dates for Parliament to consider a proposal to allow US troops to be stationed in Turkey and a separate proposal to send Turkish troops to Iraq had not been on the agenda. In related developments, Gul and Yakis are scheduled to fly to Brussels tomorrow to attend an EU meeting on Iraq and hold bilateral meetings with EU officials. Gul is also expected to meet with the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Brussels to discuss the Iraq issue. /Turkiye/
IRAQI DEPUTY PM AZIZ MEETS WITH ERDOGAN
After stopping off to meet with Pope Jean Paul II en route to Baghdad, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz met with Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday in Istanbul. The two leaders reportedly exchanged views on Iraq. Commenting on massive antiwar demonstrations over the weekend held in major cities worldwide, Aziz said that the US should listen to the voice of the international public. For his part, Erdogan strongly urged Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein through Aziz to take major steps to prevent a war. /Turkiye/
YAKIS: “THE US IS INSISTING THAT TURKEY DECIDE BY TOMORROW, BUT CHANCES OF THIS ARE WEAK”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday after returning from a visit to Washington, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said that the US administration was insisting that the Turkish Parliament decide on tomorrow, Feb. 18, whether or not to support a possible US-led operation against Iraq. Yakis explained that there were some difficulties on the timing of considering the proposal, which would specifically allow the stationing of US troops on Turkish soil, adding that the possibility of Parliament making a decision tomorrow was weak. Before last week’s holiday, Feb. 18 had been set as the target date for the vote. Also speaking upon returning from the US, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan described as “firm” a US economic aid package to help compensate for Turkey’s losses in a war but that negotiations on the matter were still continuing. “We expect talks on the package to end in a few days,” he added. The two ministers later attended a summit on Iraq held at the Prime Ministry. /Aksam/
GROSSMAN: “WE ARE WAITING FOR THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT’S DECISION ON SUPPORTING A US-LED OPERATION”
Appearing on news channel CNN Turk yesterday, US Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman said that talks between Turkey and the US had been completed and that now Washington was waiting for the Turkish Parliament to make its decision on supporting a US-led operation against Iraq. Grossman urged the Parliament to issue a decision as soon as possible. “Both the US and the United Nations are trying to disarm Iraq through peaceful means,” said Grossman, who is also a former US ambassador to Ankara. “We still hope to find a peaceful solution to the standoff between the US and Iraq. However the chances of this seem extremely slim.” Grossman stated that the threat of military force was necessary in order to persuade Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to comply with UN resolutions and relinquish his weapons of mass destruction. “If Iraq doesn’t disarm itself as soon as possible, then the UN and a coalition of countries should be ready to do so,” he added. /Milliyet/
NATO OVERCOMES DEADLOCK ON DEFENSE AID TO TURKEY
A monthlong deadlock within NATO was finally overcome yesterday as the alliance greenlighted measures to bolster Turkey’s defense in anticipation of possible attacks from Iraq during a war in that country. Last week Germany, France and Belgium had blocked a mechanism to aid key member Turkey as initiated by Secretary-General George Robertson, but yesterday all except France relented after marathon meetings in Brussels. The decision was issued from NATO’s Defense Planning Committee, a body France voluntarily exited in 1966. Under the measures, alliance AWACS planes, Patriot missiles and chemical and biological defense units can begin deployment to Turkey. A NATO statement stressed the need for Iraq’s compliance with UN Resolution 1441, adding that its decision yesterday “relates only to the defense of Turkey, and is without prejudice to any other [possible] military operations.” Turkey is the only NATO member which shares a border with Iraq. /Turkiye/
TURKEY ASKS UNHCR FOR HELP IN PREVENTING REFUGEE CRISIS
Amid bargaining between the US and Turkey on the scope of Turkey's contribution to a possible war in Iraq, Turkey is also busy preparing for a possible refugee crisis feared during conflict in the region. Turkish and UN officials are currently discussing ways to cooperate to hold back a massive refugee flow to Turkey and render humanitarian assistance in case of war. Towards this end, the Turkish government has applied to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to receive humanitarian aid. If the US launches a military operation in the region, roughly half of the war refugees are expected to flee to Iran while the other half are likely to head to Turkey in the north. Drawing up accommodation plans for these refugees, the Turkish government has applied to the UNHCR to request approximately $400 million in financial aid. The UNHCR is also expected to provide Turkey with food, tents and heating equipment. /Cumhuriyet/
US SENATORIAL DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY
A United States senatorial delegation led by John Warner, senator from Virginia and chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, is scheduled to pay a visit to Turkey on Thursday. The delegation is expected to hold meetings with officials from Turkey’s Foreign and Defense ministries in Ankara and then visit US troops stationed at the NATO Incirlik Airbase in southern Turkey. /Star/
US MILITARY TECHNICIANS ARRIVE IN TURKEY FOR AIRBASE, PORT UPGRADES
A group of some 500 US military technicians yesterday arrived in Turkey to begin work on airbases and ports set to be upgraded by the US government. The delegation is firstly to conduct inspections at facilities which are likely to be used by US forces during a possible war in Iraq. Before last week’s holiday Turkey's Parliament voted to allow the upgrades in anticipation of a possible deployment of US troops, which would require separate authorization. A vote on the deployment could take place this week. /Hurriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION