Turkey Ups Stakes On US Troops
Tuesday, 18 February, 2003, 17:27 GMT
The Turkish president has said his country will allow US soldiers to be deployed on its territory only if the United Nations passes a second resolution authorising the use of force against Iraq.
Turkey, which borders Iraq, is a key US ally and its role would be critical in any US-led invasion of Iraq to disarm Saddam Hussein.
The Turkish Government postponed voting on the issue on Tuesday, and although parliament could sanction the deployment of US troops without a new UN resolution, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has the power to veto its decision.
Turkey had previously appeared to be holding out for a package of financial compensation before accepting US troop deployments.
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul had said parliament was unlikely to allow in tens of thousands of United States troops before the political, economic and military dimensions of the deployment had been agreed.
Turkey fears it could incur heavy costs in the event of war, including the cost of housing Iraqi refugees, and is seeking a multi-billion dollar aid package.
The US wants Turkey to host thousands of troops
The president's announcement that a second resolution will also be necessary could slow down military preparations and hinder plans for a northern front in the war.
Mr Sezer said US troops could only be deployed in Turkey "in circumstances considered legitimate by international law.
"In order to have a situation deemed legitimate... we believe there should be a Security Council resolution other than Resolution 1441," he was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.
Turkish public opinion is overwhelmingly opposed to any war with Iraq, but the government has said it could not afford stay neutral in the event of a conflict.
"It... will be settled one way or another rather soon," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "We continue to work with Turkey as a friend. But it is decision time. We will find out what the ultimate outcome is."
The US is a key ally of Turkey, lobbying for Ankara to be accepted into the European Union and for international agencies to grant Turkey loans to recover from a deep economic crisis.
The US said on Tuesday it was "decision time" for Turkey to accept an aid package worth nearly $26bn.
Summit resolution
The Turkish statement demanding a second resolution came hours after European Union leaders issued a joint statement saying force should be used only as a "last resort".
The 15-member EU has been bitterly divided over whether to back the US' drive to use force to disarm Iraq or give weapons inspectors more time to complete their task.
The joint declaration placed the onus on Baghdad to "disarm and co-operate immediately and fully", and added that the EU was "committed" to working with the United States on the matter.
Greece - which currently holds the EU's revolving presidency - hailed the final statement as a triumph.
"We are united again," Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou declared.
Thirteen EU candidate countries on Tuesday also signed the declaration.
Deep differences remain, however, over the timing of any war, and how much extra time the weapons inspectors should be given.
The US is already preparing to table a second UN resolution, which France and others insist is premature.
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