Turkish airspace remains closed to U.S. military aircraft

AFP via Babelfish translation ^ | March 21, 2003

[HAL9000]

Turkish airspace always closed with the American planes

Airspace Turkish remained closed with military aircrafts American Friday morning, in spite of green light given Thursday by Parliament, has one learned from source diplomatic occidentale.

Les problem would be related to dissension between two country on role military that Turkey intends to play in the north of Iraq, according to observateurs.

Le Turkish Parliament approved Thursday the opening of the airspace "to foreign air elements armed" for "a possible military operation" against Iraq voisin.

Le daily Sabah affirmed however Friday that Americans and Turks had not managed an agreement on the conditions of use of the airspace, in spite of four hours of discussions Thursday but no American military aircraft could still forward by Turkey to attack Iraq, indicates one diplomatique.

"Nous source have an urgent need "for the airspace," but that does not seem to be the point of view of the negotiators Turkish ", according to a diplomat occidental.L' American ambassador, Robert Pearson, and the under-secretary with the Turkish ministry of the Foreign Affairs, Ugur Ziyal, continued Friday the negotiations on the conditions of survol.

Outre the opening of the airspace, the Turkish Parliament voted Thursday for soldier Turkish sending in Iraqi north to make failure with any attempt by the Iraqi Kurds proclaim their independence in the event of unilateral intervention of Turkey, launched a new warning for this purpose Thursday soir.

"Nous are opposed to any unilateral action of Turkey or of anyone in the north of Iraq ", the spokesman of the State Department declared, Richard Boucher.

"Nous let clearly know in Turkey that we oppose any military action which would not be under the control of the coalition "anti-Iraqi directed by the United States, has it ajouté.La Turkey estimates that it has the right to intervene on other side of her border, in Iraqi north, to defend her" national interests ".

[HAL9000]

Related info - Turkey votes to send troops into Northern Iraq

[ch.man]

The smell of this story starts to bother me quite a bit. Do the Turks really want to make a big mess out of this? Really hope the US stick to their guns, whatever the Turkish govt. says about Kurdish rebels, bla, bla, self-defense, bla, bla... Stay out of Irak, you stupid morons

[Fractal Trader]

I think this is all misdirection to keep the Iraqis at bay. If we really wanted to start "Shock and Awe," I am sure that we could.

Besides, we have already grabbed the crown jewel, the Kirkuk oil fields. At this point in time, the Turkey option is totally irrelevant.

[HAL9000]

From BBC News -

Turkey fails to open airspace

Turkey has delayed opening its airspace to US aircraft because of disagreements over Turkey's role in northern Iraq, according to reports from Ankara.

The Turkish parliament gave consent for the overflights on Thursday, but overnight talks with US officials left details unresolved.

"We have taken a break in talks with the US because there are snags both concerning airspace use and movement of Turkish troops into Iraq," a foreign ministry official told the AP news agency.

The US does not want Turkish forces to enter Iraq, where there is a risk of clashes with the local Kurdish population.

Turkish press reports say some Turkish units are already there.

The US originally asked Turkey to grant permission for 62,000 troops to use the country as a launchpad for an attack on Iraq.

Turkey would have received a multi-billion-dollar compensation package in return.

US officials say the financial package has now been withdrawn.

[truth_seeker]

I recall the Turkish voted for our use of their air space, AND for their troops to go into the north.

So maybe we ARE still arguing with them. Maybe better we do it without them, punish them.

Novak said the Turks met with Iran, presumably to plot division of "spoils" in north.

We probably are sticking to our guns, no Kurd separate state, no change to Iraq borders.

[meenie]

Turkey is going to be a problem. There is going to be more of a problem with Iran and Turkey than the Saddam regime. The Kurds, allied with the United States, in taking Northern Iraq will want their reward for helping us. This flies in the face of what Iran and Turkey want. Democracy is a joke to these people. Oppression of the Kurds has been the practice for years.

[a_Turk]

Maybe we need ze new mosion:

Ze line item veto by third country..

[LizardQueen]

I'm starting to think that we would have had better luck negotiating with Syria than Turkey.

So much for "allies".....

LQ

[a_Turk]

Ok, I read in the Turkish papers that Turkey wants to be given the exact nature of each flight.

I don't see what difference that would make, since the US will be able to arm the Kurds to their teeth now anyways.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"Do the Turks really want to make a big mess out of this?"

I'm starting to think so. Stupid. Reeaal stupid!

[Pushi]

The northern third of Iraq should become an independent Kurdistan.

[evad]

We will soon have unfettered rights to a base of operations right in the middle of all the arab world...

it's called IRAQ

[Dog Gone]

Ok, I read in the Turkish papers that Turkey wants to be given the exact nature of each flight.

You have got to be kidding. You have a bunch of retards running your country. We're not even sharing that kind of information with the UK who happens to be fighting and dying alongside us.

[a_Turk]

>> You have a bunch of retards running your country.

Pretty sure you're right..

[CatoRenasci]

Perhaps the BUFFs should drop their loads 'accidently' on the Turks.

[Lady Heron]

Since muslim counries news papers are so trustworthy (NOT)! I will stick to what the EU was telling the countries surrounding Iraq yesterday. LEAVE IRAQ ALONE. I wonder why the EU felt a need to make that statement.

[a_Turk]

All newspapers of all countries can be trusted to tell only part of the story..

[a_Turk]

BTW, the paper I got that news from is full of editorials flaming the Turkish government as a band of bungling fools..

[Lady Heron]

All newspapers of all countries can be trusted to tell only part of the story..

True, but at least you can gleam a part of the truth from them. Not true from the muslim press, they just make up stories without even part of the truth involved in the story.