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Turkey calls weekend debate
The Turkish parliament is being called to sit this weekend, as international attention focuses on a possible second vote on US troop deployment. The motion was narrowly rejected on 1 March, halting US preparations for a northern front in any war against Iraq. Newly-appointed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hinted that he may reintroduce the motion, although on Wednesday Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis made clear there was no guarantee of this. Turkey has negotiated a huge financial compensation package from the US if the deployment goes ahead, but public opinion is not in favour. Correspondents say Mr Erdogan, named as prime minister earlier this week after a by-election victory at the weekend, may not wish to be seen flouting public opinion or the will of parliament by pushing too hard for the deployment. The unusual weekend sitting of parliament may, however, raise US hopes that the government is moving towards a second vote. Parliament would sit from Friday to Monday, said an official from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) party.

Several parliamentary moves must still be taken before any vote. Mr Erdogan must first confirm his new cabinet team — currently expected by Friday. Its proposed programme would then have to be presented to parliament, where a formal confidence vote would take place. Only after that would the troops motion be sent back to parliament. Turkey's previous cabinet did approve the measures after weeks of hard-fought negotiations with the US. The motion also allowed for Turkish troops to cross into northern Iraq in the event of war, to secure Kurdish areas and help manage the expected wave of refugees. A northern front is considered key by US military planners, who believe it would shorten any war and minimise casualties. But the international furore over a second resolution could have an impact on the Turkish decision-making. Turkish President Necdet Sezer announced weeks ago that no deployment could take place without a second UN security council resolution, as it would lack legimitacy.

Under the Turkish constitution, foreign troops may only be accepted and Turkish troops deployed abroad if the action has international legitimacy. BBC Defence Correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the Turkish military is thought to be eager to help the US, but at the political level, the Turks seem now to be raising additional concerns about the use of their air space in any conflict — something that would have a significant impact on US war plans. Ankara, he says, is holding out for assurances about its long-term strategic interests in the region and about the fate of the Turkmen minority in post-war Iraq.
If Erdogan wants a say in what happens after the war, he better move fast. The clock's ticking.
Posted by: Steve 2003-03-13
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=11241