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Turkey And The U.S., Talking War
Yesterday, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government took a major step towards meeting US requests for a possible war against Iraq by officially beginning negotiations on details of cooperation between our two countries.
Under the 1980 Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement between the two countries, the US is allowed to use its military bases in Turkey only within the framework of NATO objectives, as both countries are members of the alliance. Thus there is now a legal vacuum regarding US use of these bases for a possible Iraq offensive, as NATO has yet to take an official stance on the issue. Under these circumstances, it is up to Parliament to pass a resolution allowing American troops to be stationed in our country, and a series of agreements is needed to clarify the scope of cooperation between Turkey and the US.
First of all, a protocol has to be drawn up regarding proposed upgrading and construction at Turkish airbases and ports the US wants to use. Moreover, another protocol is needed to regulate the legal status of some 4,000 American personnel made up of engineers and logistics experts who will carry through the construction. These two problems await urgent solution, as the US is planning to start an operation by the end of this month.
Yet, there is more. At least 10 different agreements have to be drawn up concerning the legal status of US troops and their role in a war. For instance, two separate protocols are needed for those who will fight on the frontlines in Iraq and those who stay in Turkey and provide logistic support. Several other legal documents have to be drawn up to establish the ground rules for US troops’ entries and exits into and out of our country, planes’ takeoffs and landings, and ships that will use Turkish ports.
However, the most important issue of all is that Turkey must pressure the US to sign a binding agreement to compensate our country’s possible economic losses in case of a conflict.
It always comes down to Lawyers, Guns and Money.
Posted by: Steve 2003-02-04
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=9887