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Today’s Turkish Press on Irag
WASHINGTON OFFICIALLY ASKS ANKARA FOR OVER FLIGHT PERMISSION, USE OF SEVERAL TURKISH MILITARY AIRBASES
Ahead of a possible US-led military campaign against Iraq, the Bush administration officially asked Ankara yesterday to open Turkish airspace to US planes for airlifting troops and war materiel into northern Iraq. Washington’s over flight request was conveyed by Robert Pearson, US ambassador to Ankara, during his meeting with ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is set to formally take PM post soon. Pearson also presented Erdogan a letter from US President George W. Bush which reportedly requested US use of military airbases in the southeastern Turkish provinces of Mus, Batman and Diyarbakir to launch air strikes on Iraq. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok and Erdogan gathered to discuss Washington’s requests. In related news, US Vice President Dick Cheney phoned Erdogan reportedly urging him to introduce a motion to Parliament which would allow deployment of US troops in Turkey for a possible northern offensive into Iraq, and told Erdogan that Turkey should not intervene in northern Iraq single-handedly. /All Papers/

ANAKARA WARNS BARZANI TO ABANDON HIS ANTI-TURKEY ATTITUDE OVER NORTHERN IRAQ
Turkish Foreign Ministry warned Massoud Barzani, head of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP), to abandon his anti-Turkey attitude over the northern Iraq issue. Meeting with IKDP’s Representative in Ankara, Sefin Dizayi yesterday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc said that the IKDP should give up promoting anti-Turkish ambitions in northern Iraq and coopearte with Ankara for the well-being of all the Iraqi people. /Cumhuriyet/

TALABANI: “WE ARE OPPOSED TO TURKEY’S INTERVENTION IN IRAQ SINCE WE DON’T WANT TO FIGHT AGAINST TURKISH TROOPS”
Iraqi Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani said yesterday that they didn’t want to invade Mosul and Kirkuk or fight against Iraqi troops. Talabani stated that his policy was only to protect security of the region controlled by Kurds. “We consider ourselves as partners of the US,” he said. “We are opposed to Turkey’s intervention in northern Iraq since we don’t want to fight against Turkish troops.” /Aksam/

ERDOGAN HOLDS A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH CHENEY
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was designated to form the new government, held a telephone conversation with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney following the summit at Prime Ministry. During the conversation, Erdogan and Cheney exchanged views about a possible U.S.-led military action against Iraq and the motion. Erdogan told Cheney that Turkey was going through a new government process and stated that a new evaluation on demands mentioned in the motion should be made. Erdogan said that formation of the new government should be waited for making evaluation on the motion.

U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH CALLS FOR URGENT RESPONSE FOR MOTION AND AIR SPACE
The U.S. President George Bush sent a letter and verbal message to Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan through the U.S. Ambassador Robert Pearson. Bush said they did not have patience to wait more. Pearson officially conveyed the demand for air space, and stressed that Bush waited for an urgent response. Bush sent the message that if Turkey and the United States would not enter Northern Iraq together and act together there, it would not be appropriate for Turkey to enter there by its own. In a summit in which Erdogan, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, they adopted to give a positive response to Washington.

A LITTLE SPACE BETWEEN GENERAL STAFF AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok, who had gone to Cankaya Palace when the motion was rejected, pointed out that, ''views of Turkish Armed Forces should be shared with public.'' President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in response said, ''it will not be appropriate. Various interpretations can be made.'' When Gen. Ozkok had made a statement supporting the motion following this meeting, President Sezer said, ''it was not appropriate. He should not have asked my views if he would have made this.'' When the motion was rejected, Gen. Ozkok told Prime Minister Abdullah Gul that, ''we had made all our accounts on passage of the motion. We can not remain indifferent against Northern Iraq. It is obligatory to find a new formula.''

PRESS CENTER ESTABLISHED IN ISKENDERUN
A Press Information Center was established in Naval Base Command in Iskenderun. Naval Forces Captain Ertugrul Ucar, who made a statement in Press Information Center, briefed about the studies carried out in the region within the scope of possible action against Iraq.

YALMAN: ''TSK IS READY FOR EVERY MISSION''
Land Forces Commander General Aytac Yalman who inspected Iskenderun port said, ''our troops are at perfect level. We, as Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), are ready for every mission which our nation will give us.''

MILITARY ACTIVITY
U.S. activity continues in Turkey. Land Forces Commander General Aytac Yalman came to southern Iskenderun province to inspect the region. U.S. Land Forces Deputy Commander in Chief Gen. Michael Dodson who also inspected Iskenderun port, Mediterranean Region and Garrison Command in southern Mersin province later returned to Incirlik base by helicopter.

GONUL: IRAQ CANNOT WIN THE WAR
National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said that in case of a possible war between Iraq and the United States, Iraq could not win the war. Gonul who informed Parliamentary Planning and Budgetary Commission regarding the budget of his ministry said that data were clear and if war would start, Iraq would not have the opportunity to win it. He added that no matter how heroically Iraq fought, the result would not change. He said that Iraq should implement the United Nations decisions.
Something could still happen on the Northern Front, but they better hurry.
Posted by: Steve 2003-03-14
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=11271