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| Axis of Evil |
| Todays Turkish Press Review |
| 2003-02-04 |
| Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with opposition Republican Peopleâs Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal to brief him on recent developments concerning a possible US-led operation against Iraq. Speaking after their meeting, Gul said that this week was very critical. He stated that it was the AKP governmentâs duty to protect the nationâs interests and future as well as take all needed measures in case of a war. For his part, Baykal said that Turkey would face difficult days ahead if war breaks out. He added that northern Iraq was a delicate issue for Turkey and that the formation of a Kurdish state there should be blocked. Turkey, the US and Iraqi Kurdish groups have reportedly reached an unwritten understanding on the issue of Mosul and Kirkuk, two oil-rich cities of the region which also have sizable populations of ethnic Turkmen. Under this tacit agreement, the three players in the region have reportedly settled on the following points: 1) Neither Turkey nor Kurdish groups will enter Mosul or Kirkuk during a US-led operation in Iraq. 2) US military forces will be responsible for protecting these areas as well as their Turkmen population during such an operation. 3) However, Turkey reserves the right to intervene if Kurdish groups attempt to enter one or both of these two cities. Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani yesterday dismissed as ârumorsâ media reports that three US military aircraft had landed in an area under Kurdish control. "If American troops come to our areas, they must first get permission from Turkey,â said Talabani. âOtherwise they cannot come, unless they come by parachute, but I don't think a huge army will be able to come by parachute. We are expecting them, but not yet.â He also stated that it would not be good for future relations between Kurds and Arabs if the IPUK were to attack âArab citiesâ in northern Iraq such as Mosul or Kirkuk. âIf we attack Kirkuk, we would provoke Turkey,â added Talabani. âIf we attack Mosul, this could sow animosity between Kurds and Arabs. For this reason, we are not planning to attack any Arab or Iraqi towns.â Seems like a deal has been done. Kurds will act as guides, etc, and stay out of the oil fields. The Turks will handle refugees and stay out of it as long as the Kurds keep their part of the deal. Wonder if we threw in a few airstrikes on the al-Queda groups in north Iraq to help the Kurds? |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 I believe it goes into the trust fund, but Turkey would get a discount price, same as Jordan will. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-02-04 15:38:27 |
| #1 They still haven't answered what happens to the northern oil fields. They may have decided, but they aren't telling us. Do they go to Turkey or into the trust fund? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-02-04 15:01:45 |