Headlines from the Turkish Press:
2/19/03
Erdogan: U.S. Has To Take Into Consideration Turkey's ConcernsANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that the 58th government contributed to prevention of a possible war which might break out during the Feast of Sacrifice.
Addressing the parliamentary group meeting of his party, Erdogan said that the world memorized the date Feb. 18, 2003, adding ''this date is the date on which all world peoples, who want peace rather than war, focused.''
''I would like to share with the public opinion the developments about the issue which is high on the agenda which concerns everybody. I would like to state first of all that: If today our country together with the whole Islam world didn't spend the feast of sacrifice in an atmosphere of war, the 58th government has contributed to that significantly. I would like to thank everybody who contributed to solution of the Iraqi crisis without war on behalf of my nation,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan stated that Feb. 18 was considered by the public opinion, media and the U.S. as if it was the last date for Turkey for giving a decision, adding that ''but as you see, even if today is Feb. 18, the motion on sending Turkish soldiers abroad and coming of foreign soldiers to Turkey has not been submitted to the parliament. This shows that nothing operates mechanically. As it is known, the language of diplomacy is very delicate due to that reason. I would also like to state that the thing important for us is not certain dates, but the form of developments.''
turkishpress.com
2/19/03
>>Erdogan: Support for US not inevitable
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday warned Washington not to take Turkey's support for a U.S.-led war against Iraq for granted.<<
turkishdailynews.com
2/18/03
Ankara To Washington: We Are Ready Whenever You Are Ready Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said early on Tuesday that the government couldn't submit the second motion on deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey to the parliament on Feb. 18, adding the government was ready to submit it to the parliament in the shortest possible time when the conditions were fulfilled. [Conditions = money?]
turkishpress.com
Sezer: Foreign Armed Forces Can Stay In Turkey In A Situation That Is Considered Legitimate By International Law [New UN resolution needed.]
turkishpress.com
My guess is that the civil government of Turkey is doing whatever it can to drag things out because that delays war in Iraq, and that in the end they won't agree.
I find this curious in light of my belief that it is inevitable that the US will invade Iraq sometime within the next few weeks, and that the war won't last long. Dubya holds a grudge against people who try to thwart him. It won't be "forgive and forget" for world leaders that stand in his way.
But, given that the new government of Turkey is Islamist, it may simply be that they can't do it any other way. Muslim countries have to stick together and all that. In which case, the fault lines will break a little differently, and Eastern Europe will be even more important, and having Iraq as a base will be even more imperative. |
