Iraq Is Real Bargaining

STAR- Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli comments on the bargaining between Turkey and the US concerning the Iraq crisis. A summary of her column is as follows:
The latest problem concerning Turkey and the US’ bargaining on proposal is about whether Turkey will enter the international civilian administration to be established by the US in Baghdad in the post-Saddam period or not. Ankara stated Washington that if the proposal is approved by Parliament, it certainly would request to be included in the international administration, which will be established in Baghdad and which will serve for two years. The US doesn’t welcome this idea warmly. It prefers Turkey’s role to be limited with northern Iraq. The US briefed Ankara on the ‘timetable of interim administration’ to be established in Iraq following the operation, which is as follows:
* Initially, the martial law will be declared in the entire country. A US general will undertake the administration in Baghdad.
* The US military administration in Iraq will leave its place to the international civilian administration. Only all the countries which support the US in the operation ‘actively’ will be included in this administration.
* The daily work in the country will be carried out by the Kurdish local administrations in the north and Shih local administrations in the south.
* First of all, the international administration will appoint an ‘Advisory Council,’ in which the current groups in Iraq will be included. Ankara requests that besides Shih, Sunni Arabian people and Kurds, Turkmens should be represented in the council as well.
* The international civilian administration will enact the citizenship law. Thus, there will be a possibility of returning the country for all the Iraqi people, who escaped Saddam Hussein’s oppression. At this point, Ankara will encourage Turkmens abroad to return Iraq.
* Advisory Council and the international civilian administration will establish a ‘judicial committee’ together. This committee will be mostly formed by Iraqi jurists. It will write down the new constitution.
* A referendum will be held on Constitution to determine the country’s method of administration.
* Firstly, local elections will be held and the municipalities will be determined.
* Secondly, general elections will be held and deputies will be elected.
* The international civilian administration will start to turn over its authorities to the elected Iraqi people.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION