Turkey stands firm over US forces
(from BBC News--UK)
The head of Turkey's ruling party has said that US forces will not be permitted to launch an attack on Iraq from his country unless written guarantees of financial aid are provided.
In an interview with the Yeni Safak newspaper, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara was also seeking clarification from Washington on Turkey's role in any war.
Use of military bases in Turkey would allow the United States to open a northern front in any attack on Iraq, to coincide with operations in the south.
But although Turkey is a key Muslim ally of the US and a fellow member of Nato, its leaders are deeply concerned about the impact of war on the already fragile Turkish economy.
A parliamentary vote that would allow American troops to deploy on Turkish soil, due earlier this week, has been delayed while officials from the two countries try to hammer out a deal.
Grants and loans
Washington has reportedly offered Ankara grants of $6bn and loans of up to $20bn in exchange for its support, and has expressed frustration over Turkey's failure to accept the deal.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters in Washington that he expected to hear back from Turkey by the end of Thursday.
"Our position is firm," he said.
But Mr Erdogan insists that Turkey should receive formal assurances that the US Congress will act quickly to release financial aid.
"This will not happen without a signature," he said.
Economy Minister Ali Babacan was even more downbeat.
"We have found the figures insufficient and we are not looking favourably at the offer," he told the Cumhuriyet newspaper.
Without elaborating, he said Ankara had sent Washington a counter-proposal, but no progress towards a compromise had been reached so far.
And he added: "The US says the (Iraq) operation will be short. On the other hand, it says the congressional process affecting all matters, including the grants, will take between six and eight weeks.
"What if the operation is over before the completion of the congressional process and Congress tells us 'Sorry'? That is why a written deal is a must."
UN resolution
Turkey argues that its economy suffered a loss of tens of billions of dollars as a result of the 1991 Gulf War, and that it had little input in subsequent decisions affecting the area, particularly northern Iraq.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer has said that US forces could, if necessary, successfully attack Iraq without deploying forces in Turkey.
"Turkey's support would be desirable but not essential in a US military operation against Iraq," he told reporters.
WHO BACKS WAR? Where the key nations stand on military conflict in Iraq
At-A-Glance
The situation is further complicated by calls from many within the Turkish leadership for a second United Nations Security Council resolution on Iraq, authorising the use of force, to be adopted before the Americans are allowed in.
US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who are pushing for military action if Iraq fails to disband its alleged weapons of mass destruction programme, have been discussing the wording of a second resolution.
The BBC's Justin Webb says that while some in the Bush administration favour a short text saying Iraq is in further material breach of last November's resolution, others says the resolution should give Iraqi President Saddam Hussein a further, brief period to comply.
Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk
Published: 2003/02/20 16:19:40 |
