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Turkish News Roundup
MYERS: WE USE TURKISH AIRSPACE
Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Turkish airspace was first used on March 22 to transport U.S. soldiers to Northern Iraq. Pointing out that they opposed to entrance of the Turkish forces in Northern Iraq apart from preventing refugee inflow, Gen. Myers said no such refugee inflow has been seen so far, stating that thus there was no need for the Turkish soldiers to enter. Speaking at a tv program in ABC television, Myers said they used the Turkish airspace on March 22 night. He said in fact technically they were not the first U.S. soldiers in Northern Iraq, but that they were the first soldiers who entered the region following the permission which had been taken in the Turkish Parliament.

TWO TOMAHAWKS FELL ON SANLIURFA
Two missiles on Sunday fell on two villages in Viransehir and Birecik townships of southeastern Sanliurfa province. Firstly, it was thought that the missiles fell from planes, but later it was claimed that they could be the two Tomahawk Cruise missiles which were launched from the war ships in the Mediterranean.
The first missile fell near Ozveren village in Birecik township at around 17.30 local time. This was an area that is 500 meters away from the village houses. The villagers called the gendarme to inform about the incident. The gendarme forces saw the missile which opened a four meters wide and one meter deep hole, but did not explode. Immediately after this incident, news report that another bomb fell from a warplane near Ayakli village in Viransehir township. Officials, who went to the spot, found another missile which stuck in the soil.
Warheads don't arm till they reach target area. EOD will be busy rounding these up.

NO REFUGEE INFLOW FROM THE NORTH
Prime Ministry Crisis Administration Center said no refugee inflow toward Turkey was observed. The center stressed that activities targeting preparation for humanitarian aid continued. Meanwhile, Cukurca Mayor Mehmet Kanar, who pointed out that he talked to Northern Iraq by phone everyday, stated that the peshmerga families he talked there told him that they did not think of migrating to Turkey, and that they would shelter in mosques and schools in case they are in a difficult situation.
No stream of refugees into Turkey, no need for Turkish troops. Bet the Kurds put the word out.

“NEGOTIATIONS ARE CONTINUING WITH US OFFICIALS OVER NORTHERN IRAQ"
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that negotiations with US officials on coordinating the countries’ respective roles in northern Iraq were continuing, stressing that Turkey would decide through its own will on whether or not to enter northern Iraq. “There is nothing negative in our talks with the Americans,” said Gul. “Everything is moving forward with coordination and mutual understanding." US troop activities in Turkey are continuing within the framework of Parliament’s permission and cooperation regarding humanitarian aid will continue in the future as well, he remarked. Gul added that Turkey had permitted a C-130 plane to land at Incirlik Airbase the previous day as it had carried wounded personnel. In related news, Gul yesterday had telephone conversations with his German and Greek counterparts, Joschka Fischer and George Papandreou, to convey Turkey’s stance on the Iraq war. In addition, Gul sent a message to Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa during the league’s current Cairo, Egypt summit laying out Turkey’s Iraq policy.

PEARSON VISITS FOREIGN MINISTRY TO DISCUSS NORTHERN IRAQ, TURKISH SIDE SEES “SOFTENING”
US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson yesterday visited the Foreign Ministry to discuss the issue of Turkey’s role in northern Iraq. During meetings with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and Ambassador Deniz Bolukbasi, the two sides reportedly held preliminary talks on Turkey’s possible entrance into northern Iraq. Whereas Pearson reiterated US concerns that Turkey’s entrance might cause trouble with the region’s Kurds and endanger the US-led war, the Turkish side reportedly saw signs of a softening of the US position on the issue. The talks are due to continue today with the participation of Zalmay Khalilzad, US President George W. Bush’s envoy to the Iraqi opposition.

KHALILZAD TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY TO DISCUSS NORTHERN IRAQ
US presidential envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is set to arrive in Ankara today to meet with Foreign Ministry officials to discuss a number of issues, among them Turkey’s entering northern Iraq, a move which the US has expressed opposition to. During the bilateral talks, the size and role of Turkish forces entering the region are expected to be discussed.
How about none?

US PULLS BACK NORTHERN FRONT PREPARATIONS FROM TURKEY
After the Pentagon formally abandoned plans Saturday to open a northern front through Turkey in the Iraq war, dozens of American ships waiting off Turkey’s Iskenderun and Mersin Mediterranean seaports started to head to the Persian Gulf yesterday. The US also started pulling back logistical stockpiles in southeastern Turkey.
Thanks for nothing, Turkey.

BUSH: “THE US HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT DOESN’T WANT A TURKISH MILITARY PRESENCE IN NORTHERN IRAQ”
Speaking yesterday at the White House after meeting with his war advisors in Camp David, US President George W. Bush reiterated his administration’s policy against Turkish forces entering northern Iraq. “The US is making it very clear that it does not want a Turkish military presence in northern Iraq,” he told journalists. “They know our policy, and it's a firm policy, and, they know we're working with the Kurds to make sure there's not an incident with the Turkish military.” However, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged over the weekend to send Turkish troops into the region, saying, "The presence of our troops will be a source of security and stability both for Turkey and the region."
Not taking no for an answer.
Posted by: Steve 2003-03-24
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=11774