ISTANBUL - Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) said on Friday that they followed the negotiations between Turkey and the U.S. with great concern, adding that ''we are sorry as this process turned into a bargaining for money.''
Baykal went to Brussels to participate in extraordinary meeting of the Party of European Socialists (PES) about the Iraqi problem.
Speaking at Ataturk Airport, Baykal said that the Iraqi problem was at a critical stage.
Stressing that the issue of international legitimacy should be taken as basis in Turkey's all foreign policy decisions, Baykal said that ''a motion will be presented to the parliament in the beginning of the week about the deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey and their passage to Iraq who will take part in a possible war against Iraq. This is what the government stated, the second motion will be presented to the parliament which will assess it. The government's attitude in this respect is interesting, the government says that it left the decision in this issue to the parliament and that it would not be in an effort of influencing the deputies... This attitude shows that the AK Party refrains from undertaking responsibility... We think that Turkey is not governed correctly in this crisis, it follows a dual policy. Now it is time to decide, but it seems that the government will prefer to be seen as if it does not take a decision and it will avoid from taking the responsibility of any decision. We follow the developments carefully.''
Stating that the government should have shown clearly its intention at the beginning if it had no intention regarding military cooperation with the United States, Baykal said, ''we should have not given misleading hopes. We should have put forth with determination that we did not want this issue.''
Baykal who claimed that the government assumed an attitude of either it could cooperate in military issues or not so far said that this was a contradictory attitude and it could cause troubles regarding decision which would be taken.
Baykal said, ''we don't still know what decision we will take at that point which we reached. We are afraid of decision which will be taken. This is a saddening attitude.''
Upon a question on negotiations with the United States, Baykal said, ''we try to understand source of uncertainty. Public opinion knows that there is uncertainty because disagreement has not been reached regarding content of financial aid package. If so, it is a saddening situation. If there is a disagreement regarding bargain for economic interests, it will be an attitude which is inappropriate for Turkey. We are watching those negotiations with great concern. We feel sad because it turned into a bargain for money.''
When recalled it was said that Baykal made those criticisms because he was at the opposition, Baykal said, ''it is a confession that policy which has been pursued so far is wrong. Everyone knows that we, as CHP, will pursue a clear and consistent policy.''
Asked whether the party would take a group decision on motion, Baykal said, ''we don't need to take group decision. Our friends explained their view on the issue.''
(ÖS-EÖ-AÖ) 21.02.2003