ANKARA - State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Abdullatif Sener said on Monday that Prime Ministry motion on deployment of foreign troops in Turkey and dispatch of Turkish troops abroad would be transferred to the parliament the same day.
Following Council of Ministers meeting, Sener held a press conference.
Noting that today's Council of Ministers meeting's agenda was composed of a single issue, Sener said they had evaluated possible U.S.-led military action against Iraq and developments after such an action.
Stating that they were still seeking a deal with the United States on military, political and economic issues, Sener said, ''the Council of Ministers was firstly informed on the latest point reached in talks on political agreement and details. Later, information was given on talks on military agreement and latest point reached in those talks. Finally, economic issues were taken up in detail.''
''Besides these ongoing talks, impacts of a possible military action on Turkey, measures that our government has to take to protect Turkey's interests in a sensitive way, and position, attitude and opinion of other countries regarding a U.S. military action against Iraq were evaluated, and all cabinet members expressed their opinions,'' he said.
''During these talks, most of the Council of Ministers members did not find developments satisfactory. However, the Council of Ministers decided to send the motion to the parliament today. The motion was opened for signature and signature process is about to finish,'' he said.
Replying a question which said, ''will there be a single motion on deployment of foreign troops in Turkey and its duration or will they be taken up in separate motions? What is the content?'' Sener said, ''the motion allows dispatch of Turkish Armed Forces to foreign countries or stationing foreign armed forces in Turkey and their crossing.''
When asked whether ''duration'' was mentioned or not in the motion, Sener said that detail about duration had not been determined.
Replying another question which said, ''you have said that most of the ministers were not satisfied with the point reached in talks. Didn't you sign the motion?'' Sener said, ''as you know that Council of Ministers decisions are taken unanimously, not by majority. There is signature of all ministers under a Council of Ministers decision. However, regarding this issue, the parliament is the authority. The parliament uses its authority upon the decision of the Council of Ministers. So the motion will be sent to the parliament today under the decision of the Council of Ministers, and it will be approved by members of parliament or a parliamentary decision will be taken about this motion.''
Replying a question which said, ''you have said most of the ministers were not satisfied. How will members of parliament be satisfied?'' Sener said, ''at the moment, negotiations with the United States on military, political and economic issues are under way, but they have reached an important stage. Since postponement of motion is not so healthy on this ground, we have decided to send it to the parliament today. The parliament has the control over its agenda. It will bring this motion onto its agenda on a date it sets. The parliament has the authority and it will take a decision. During the parliamentary session on this motion, our government will inform the members of parliament on details of talks with the U.S. side and other issues.''
ARINC: ''GOVERNMENT'S SUBMITTING A MOTION TO PARLIAMENT IN A PERIOD, WHEN CONDITIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY HAVE NOT EMERGED YET, WILL NOT BE A CORRECT ACTION''
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Monday that government's submitting a motion to the parliament in a period, when the conditions of international legitimacy had not emerged yet, would not be a correct action.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Group Chairman Salih Kapusuz paid a visit to Arinc.
Responding questions of journalists following the meeting, Arinc noted, ''the motion about deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey and dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad was brought onto agenda of our meeting. I stressed that such a motion should have the condition of international legitimacy. It is very important decision in regard to future of Turkey. This decision can lead many positive or negative developments in the world. The conditions, which are mentioned in Article 92 of the Constitution, should emerge. The United Nations has been continuing to debate the issue. Observers have been carrying out their duties in line with United Nations resolution no: 1441. Works of United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) Chairman Hans Blix and his friend have not been completed yet.''
''International legitimacy is required both for warfare and for deployment of foreign soldiers and dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad. Our government's submitting a motion to the parliament in a period, when the conditions of international legitimacy has not emerged yet, will not be a correct action,'' he added.
(MS-UK-AÖ) 24.02.2003