HURRIYET- Columnist Oktay Eksi comments on yesterday’s speech by Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok in Diyarbakir. A summary of his column is as follows:
Speaking to journalists in Diyarbakir yesterday, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok gave the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) view on the latest developments in the region. He was very pragmatic, frank, reasonable and open in his speech, just like his statements earlier this month. Excepting two issues, he was correct in all that he said. We agreed with Ozkok’s observations and evaluations to a great extent but his words sometimes contained certain political opinions, a habit which soldiers should generally steer clear of. For example, he said, ‘We won’t enter northern Iraq in order to fight or occupy it. We have no intention to establish a permanent buffer zone. Considering the unexpectedness of the war, we will ensure the greatest support for the groups there in order to prevent possible instability in northern Iraq. We won’t get involved in any heated clashes, except in defending ourselves. We have no hidden aims. We do not and will not have any enmity towards anyone.’
I repeat that these are the policies which Turkey follows and should continue to follow. However, Turkey might have decided to enter Iraq in order to fight or occupy there. In that case Ozkok’s views and this political path would be at odds, and Turkey would be faced with a domestic crisis. Ozkok’s warnings for the US and Britain and Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq were very appropriate because his statements, ‘This isn’t our war and this isn’t our mission’ and his longing for Iraq to become an ‘honorable member of the free and democratic world with its territorial integrity’ are also reflections of the views of the whole Turkish nation.
However, there were two issues carrying political characteristics in his message. For example, would the declaration of an independent Kurdish state be a reason for Turkey to use its right to defend itself? Similarly, if the Iraqi Kurds try to take Mosul and Kirkuk or attack the Iraqi Turkmen, would Turkey be content to merely sit by and watch this happen?
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION