Turkish And U.S. Military Officials Start Discussing Scope And Implementation Of Motion

ANKARA - Turkish and U.S. military officials started on Thursday discussing scope and implementation of the prime ministry motion on sending Turkish troops abroad and opening Turkish airspace to foreign armed forces' planes.
The discussions started at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before approval of the motion.
The sides have been trying to determine principles and methods regarded with implementation of the issue, which are included in scope of the motion.
MOTION GIVES GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY ON SENDING TURKISH TROOPS ABROAD AND OPENING TURKISH AIRSPACE FOR SIX MONTHS
The prime ministry motion which was approved by the Parliamentary General Assembly on Thursday gives the government authority on sending Turkish troops abroad and opening Turkish airspace to foreign armed forces' planes for six months.
The motion asked the Parliament to approve sending Turkish Armed Forces to Northern Iraq in a way whose content, limit and time would be determined by the government, and using these forces in Northern Iraq within principles that would be determined when necessary in order to maintain an effective deterrence. The motion also asked the Parliament to allow the government for 6 months to make necessary arrangements for usage of Turkish air space by air elements belonging to foreign armed forces within principles and rules determined by Turkish authorities in a possible military operation.
During the political power of the 58th government, the parliament approved the first prime ministry motion on February 6, and allowed deployment of U.S. technical and military personnel in Turkey for three months for necessary renovation, development and construction of military bases and ports.
The authority, which was given to the government under the first prime ministry motion, will expire on May 6, 2003.
The government can request the parliament to extend period of the authority or request a new authority by changing scope of it.
Following the first prime ministry motion, which is known as ''renovation of bases'' by the public opinion, the government sought another authority from the parliament by submitting a second motion on February 25.
The motion was put to vote at the Parliamentary General Assembly on March 1 and rejected.
The motion envisaged dispatch of Turkish Armed Forces abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey.
In the motion, number of foreign soldiers to be deployed in Turkey was restricted with 62 thousand the most. The motion allowed deployment of 255 planes and 65 helicopters.
During the vote for the motion, 250 deputies cast their votes against the motion while 264 deputies cast their votes in favor of it. 19 deputies abstained.
Following the vote, it was stated that the motion could not get absolute majority, which was required by the Constitution.
(EÖ-UK-AÖ) 20.03.2003