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| Turkish Press Scan /Review for Monday |
| 2003-03-17 |
| These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 17, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. TEN SHIPS UNLOAD 2087 MILITARY VEHICLES AT ISKENDERUN PORT Ten cargo ships carrying military vehicles and equipment have approached Iskenderun port in southern Hatay province since February 19. The ships unloaded 2087 vehicles at the port. Five military ships of them carrying Patriots of the Netherlands unloaded vehicles and equipment at the port. That is a lot of vehicles to just "upgrade" facilities. And I seem to remember that last month there was a story about how the Dutch Patriot missiles were on three ships and they were all in place. Some thing smells here. ''U.S. TO FIGHT AGAINST IRAQ WITHOUT TURKEY'' A U.S. official said that the United States would attack Iraq without support of Turkey. U.S. official told Hurriyet that Justice and Development Party (AK Party) was responsible for the point which was reached on the issue and said that the United States would make war against Iraq without Turkey. U.S. official said that financial aid package was no longer on the table and stated that Turkish economy would be affected negatively due to this situation. ''WE HAVE NOT BREAK OFF TIES WITH U.S.'' Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey didn't want its relations with the U.S. to be disturbed, adding that ''the ties between Turkey and the U.S. didn't break off, we find ways to sort out the problems.'' When responding to questions of the paper about the relations between Turkey and the U.S. regarding a possible operation against Iraq, Gul said that ''our relations with the U.S. are very important. We don't want these relations to be disturbed or to be drifted to a crisis. Certainly, the ties between us have not broken off. We follow the developments. We attribute great importance to our relations with the U.S. which is our strategic ally. We search for ways to find a solution to the problems that came out regarding the process about Iraq.'' ''15 BILLION DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED'' The U.S. which continues its preparations to start an operation against Iraq, takes a step back regarding monetary assistance to Turkey. Following the statement of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell who said that ''no money was allocated for assistance to Turkey in the budget,'' two high ranking U.S. officials said that the aid package was not in question for the moment. Associated Press asserted that ''senior U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the 15 billion U.S. dollars offer to Turkey had been withdrawn.'' OZILHAN: ''MOTION MAY NOT BE ADOPTED'' Chairman of the Association of Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSIAD) said that the U.S. didn't prepare a new assistance package to Turkey for a possible operation against Iraq, as the U.S. was suspicious that the second motion would not be adopted. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems resolved to submit the second motion to the parliament. However, the business circle is suspicious about the adoption of the second motion. TUSIAD Chairman Ozilhan expressed his doubt about the adoption of the second motion and said that ''if the aid package is not sent to Turkey by the U.S., the government in Turkey has to play a key role and it should take decisions to keep the damage of a possible war on Turkey at the minimum level.'' LAST WEEK FOR BARGAINING BETWEEN TURKEY AND U.S. A meeting which will be held in Ankara between Turkmens and Kurdish groups in northern Iraq is very important for negotiations on Iraq issue between Turkey and the United States. An agreement on Turkey's possible security operation and strengthening of status of Turkmens will be tried to be formed at the meeting in which U.S. President George W. Bush's adviser for Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad will also participate. According to result of the meeting, either Turkey will be in full cooperation with the United States on Iraq issue or it will extend limited support to the United States in case of an attack against Iraq. IRAQI OPPOSITION LEADERS COME TO TURKEY Turkey, the U.S., Kurdish groups and Turkmens in Northern Iraq will come together in Ankara. Patriotic Union for Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani, Iraqi Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) representative Necirvan Barzani and Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) leader Sanan Ahmet Aga entered Turkey from Habur border gate yesterday. During the talks in Ankara, the dimension and character of the military activities that are expected to take place in Northern Iraq in parallel with a possible intervention in Iraq will be discussed. GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER PAPANTONIOU: âSERIOUS CLASHES WOULD FOLLOW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A KURDISH STATE IN NORTHERN IRAQâ Greek Defense Minister Yannos Papantoniou over the weekend predicted that if an independent Kurdish state were established in northern Iraq after Saddam Hussein loses power, Turkey would very likely intervene in the region, which would in turn lead to serious clashes between Turkish and Kurdish troops. He added that Greece was well aware of Turkeyâs firm opposition to the establishment of a Kurdish state. Noting that the European Union, which Greece currently holds the rotating presidency of, lacked a specific policy on the Kurds, the Greek defense minister said that like Turkey, his nation also wanted to maintain the current borders and Iraqâs territorial integrity. /Hurriyet/ |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #1 One would think the Greeks would be delighted that the Turks would be occupied with the Kurds. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-17 11:12:53 |