SEZER: “WE CAN OVERCOME OUR CHALLENGES THROUGH WORKING IN HARMONY AND COOPERATION”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday received the new 59th Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a visit said to focus on the Iraq war and economic issues. Pointing out that Turkey was facing a difficult period due to the current war in Iraq, Sezer said that the days to come might be even harder and more critical. “Our challenges can only be overcome working with harmony and cooperation,” said Sezer. For his part, the prime minister stressed that his government placed great importance on the harmony between all government institutions. We will do our best to ensure harmony and cooperation, as we know that it is the only way for us to succeed, said Erdogan. /Turkiye/
CHIEF OF STAFF GEN. OZKOK VISITS ERDOGAN, BAYKAL TO DISCUSS NORTHERN IRAQ
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Turkey’s force commanders yesterday held separate meetings with Prime Minister and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal to discuss the situation in northern Iraq. During the meeting with Baykal, Ozkok said that there was currently no need to be concerned about the region. “We have taken into account the sensitivities of the United States and the European Union on northern Iraq. As of now, Turkey has no plan to enter the region,” he added. For his part, Baykal said that the AKP government should take defensive measures in the region, adding that he didn’t want Turkey to be involved in the Mideast plans of the US. Speaking after his meeting with Erdogan, Ozkok said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) were preparing to send troops to northern Iraq and that authorizing foreign overflights through Turkey and sending Turkish troops to the region -- both of which were authorized last week -- were two entirely different subjects. He added that the TSK was ready and would put its plans into effect when the time is right. /Aksam/
CICEK: “OUR INTENT IS CLEAR, TURKEY HAS NO HIDDEN DESIGNS ON NORTHERN IRAQ”
Following a three-hour Cabinet meeting yesterday, Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek said that Turkey’s sole reasons for possibly sending troops to northern Iraq were humanitarian purposes and its concerns over terrorism. Stressing that Turkey had no ulterior motives regarding northern Iraq, Cicek stated that Turkey’s intent was very clear. Certain countries are distorting the facts, he explained. Following the Gulf War, a power vacuum led to terrorist activities in the region, and now we want to prevent the same thing from happening again, he emphasized. The minister added that Turkey had no hidden purposes or colonialist aims in the region. “We are in favor of Iraq’s territorial integrity and believe that Iraq’s resources should be used only by the Iraqi people,” said the spokesman. He added that Turkey would decide on its own whether to enter the region if need be. /Turkiye/
POWELL: “TURKEY SAYS IT HAS NO TROOPS GOING INTO NORTHERN IRAQ, AND THERE IS NO NEED RIGHT NOW FOR ANY”
In an interview with US Channel Fox News yesterday, US Secretary of State Colin Powell denied recent rumors that Turkish troops are currently crossing the border between Turkey and northern Iraq, adding that the Turkish government is working with the Bush administration on this matter. “There are no troops flowing across the border,” said Powell. “Turkey has reassured the international community over the weekend -- they did it in NATO this morning and there have been other statements -- that they have no plans at the moment to send any troops across the border. We are examining what requirements might emerge in that part of Iraq with respect to humanitarian requirements and things of that nature. We are in closest consultation with the Turks. But right now, they have said they have no plans to cross the border with large formations or even … medium or small formations. They have no plans for an incursion at this time. That is not to say that the situation might not change in the future. The important thing is that's what they have said and the important thing is that there has not been a humanitarian crisis in that part of northern Iraq of the kind that we were worried about. There are not large numbers of refugees flowing toward the Turkish border and we see no need for a Turkish incursion. And that is what we are saying to our Turkish friends: There is no need for Turkish troops to cross the border.” /Cumhuriyet/
IKDP CALLS TURKISH TROOPS IN NORTHERN UNWELCOME IRAQ FOR ANY REASON
Speaking on television yesterday, Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) Turkey representative Safin Dizayi said that his group would absolutely not welcome Turkish troops in northern Iraq, no matter their rationale for coming in. Remarking that they appreciated what Turkey had done for their people in the past, Diyazi added, “However, we don’t want Turkish troops here now, even for humanitarian aid or due to terrorism concerns.” Stressing that Turkey already had a small military unit in the region, the IKDP representative said, “We are working peacably with them. However, there is no need for additional forces.” /Turkiye/
US JOINT CHIEFS GEN. MYERS: “REFUGEE AID IS SOLE JUSTIFICATION FOR POSSIBLE TURKISH DEPLOYMENT”
Appearing on television yesterday, US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard Myers said that Turkish airspace had been used by US forces for the first time on last Saturday. Answering questions on possible Turkish troop deployment in northern Iraq, Myers said that US administration would only welcome Turkish troops there in case of a huge flood of refugees. “As no such flood as yet exists, there is currently no need for Turkish troops’ intervention,” added the general. /Turkiye/
KHALILZAD: “WE WILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS DETAILS ON NORTHERN IRAQ WITH TURKEY”
US presidential envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, accompanied by US Ambassador to Ankara Robert Pearson, yesterday met with Ali Tuygan, a Foreign Ministry deputy undersecretary, to discuss the issue of Turkey’s sending troops into northern Iraq. Speaking after their meeting, Khalilzad said the trio had talked about the concerns and interests of both Turkey and the United States in what he called “fruitful” discussions. Khalilzad added that there was no deal between the two sides on Turkey’s sending troops into northern Iraq, but that they would continue to discuss the matter over the coming days. /Milliyet/
BLAIR: “TURKEY’S ENTERING NORTHERN IRAQ WOULD BE ENTIRELY UNACCEPTABLE”
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday that Turkey’s entering northern Iraq would be, in his words, “entirely unacceptable.” Speaking to the British Parliament, Blair stated, “We have told this both to the Justice and Development Party [AKP] government and the Turkish General Staff,” adding, “I believe that this has been understood.” /Milliyet/
GERMAN OFFICIALS, VERHEUGEN WARN OF CONSEQUENCES IF TURKEY ENTERS NORTHERN IRAQ
Even as Turkish and US officials discussed if and under what circumstances Turkish forces might enter northern Iraq, the controversial issue continues to make diplomatic waves, with the latest reverberations felt in Germany and the European Union Commission. Yesterday German Interior Minister Otto Schily reiterated his government’s vow to withdraw its NATO military personnel should Turkish troops enter the region. “In such a case, German soldiers manning AWACS planes and Patriot missile systems in Turkey will leave,” said Schily. “But it hasn’t come to that yet.” German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer echoed this statement, underlining that as yet NATO’s German forces stationed in Turkey to defend against possible Iraqi attack could stay put. Gernot Erler, Germany’s ruling Social Democratic Party (SDP) parliamentary group chairman, also warned of possible adverse consequences of Turkish intervention. “This could lead to a crisis within NATO,” he said. “NATO members should warn Ankara that intervention could violate the alliance’s defense union status.” He added that Germany was concerned about Turkish-Kurdish clashes in northern Iraq. Turkey and Germany are both longtime NATO members, but whereas Turkey is counted among the US’ “coalition of the willing” against Iraq, Germany steadfastly opposes the ongoing war. Finally, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen also weighed in yesterday, cautioning Turkey not to take active part in armed conflicts in Iraq or any situations which violate international law. /Cumhuriyet/
ITALIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: “AN EU WITHOUT TURKEY WOULD BE POLITICALLY MEANINGLESS”
Italian Defense Minister Antonio Martino yesterday arrived in Ankara to meet with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul. Remarking that a European Union excluding Turkey would be politically meaningless, Martino stressed that Turkey should be considered a “natural member” of the Union. For his part, Gonul stated that Turkey valued Italy’s close friendship and support for its EU membership bid, adding that he hoped Turkish-EU relations would improve after Italy assumes the Union’s term presidency this July. Among the other issues that the two ministers discussed were the latest developments in Iraq, regional developments and the international fight against terrorism. /Cumhuriyet/
IMF LAUDS GOVERNMENT PLEDGES TO STICK WITH ECONOMIC PROGRAM
The International Monetary Fund is pleased with recent high-level government pledges to abide by Turkey’s economic program and policies to that end, said IMF Turkey representative Odd Per Brekk yesterday. “The IMF is pleased with the commitments and statements made by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the government on economic policy,” said Per Brekk. “It welcomed Erdogan’s recent speech pledging his devotion to sound economic policies. We look forward to getting the final version of the new letter of intent [LOI] from the government so we can complete the fourth review.” Brekk later added that economic measures recently announced by government spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek were also welcome, explaining, “If the government puts forth great efforts to meet its obligations, the IMF Executive Board might meet mid-month next month to discuss the fourth review.” /Hurriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION