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1 posted on 07/17/2002 3:37:22 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks
Turkey is suffering from a deep economic crisis and is worried that military action could hurt its already frail economy.

Thanks for the post.

I can't blame Turkey for wanting assurances their economy won't suffer if they participate in a war effort. Clearly we need their cooperation for any attack on Iraq.

2 posted on 07/17/2002 3:53:06 AM PDT by toddst
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To: kattracks
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Turkey has agreed to back the United States if it takes military action to topple Saddam Hussein but has asked that Washington write off $5 billion in debt and guarantee that Kurds would not be given an independent state, according to news reports Wednesday.

Turkish leaders publicly have opposed U.S. action against Saddam and had reacted coolly to the Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz's visit to lobby Turkish leaders for support. But Turkey is in desperate need of foreign loans to recover from a deep financial crisis and is likely to have little choice but to agree to U.S. action.

Turkey asked the United States to write off its $5 billion military debt and insisted that regime change in Baghdad should be acceptable to the Iraqi people, the daily Hurriyet newspaper reported. It also said Wolfowitz was asked for public guarantees that a Kurdish state would not be created in northern Iraq and that the military action would not harm Turkey's frail economy.

If Iraq becomes a democratic state, ``it won't be only the people of Iraq who benefit from this, but it would be the whole world, and very much this region ... Turkey stands to benefit enormously if Iraq becomes a normal country,'' said Wolfowitz, the Pentagon's No. 2 official who met with top Turkish leaders Tuesday and Wednesday.

Turkey was a key base for U.S. warplanes during the Gulf War which drove Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. NATO-member Turkey still is base to 50 U.S. fighter jets enforcing a no-fly zone over northern Iraq to protect Kurds who have an autonomous zone there from retribution from Baghdad.

During a meeting with Wolfowitz, Turkey's military Chief of Staff, Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, questioned how the United States was planning to prevent the creation of a Kurdish state, the daily Sabah reported. Turkey fears a Kurdish state in northern Iraq could encourage Kurdish rebels who have fought for 15 years for autonomy inside Turkey.

The news reports said Wolfowitz assured Turkish leaders the United States was firmly opposed to a Kurdish state.

Turkey also warned that the oil rich areas of Mosul and Kirkuk in northern Iraq should not be put under the control of Iraqi Kurds, Hurriyet said. The areas are just outside the autonomous Kurdish zone.

5 posted on 07/17/2002 5:42:44 AM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: kattracks
against Iraq as long as it does not lead to an independent Kurdish state

This is impossible. It is unrealistic and the Turks know it. Their concern is that independence there will foment hope for nationalist aspirations of Kurds in Turkey. Moreover, how can Iraqi Kurdish help be enlisted without promises of independence? The most which can be offered is that the U.S. will side with Turkey in its position with respect to Turkish Kurds. A fair trade-off.

9 posted on 07/17/2002 8:17:52 AM PDT by Lent
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To: kattracks
Makes sense considering how precarious their political situation was last time I heard anything about it in the news.
10 posted on 07/17/2002 10:05:39 AM PDT by Democratic_Machiavelli
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To: kattracks
Hmmm. Reading between the lines, I'd say a key character has been cast for the upcoming "Road To Baghdad" movie.
11 posted on 07/17/2002 10:24:10 AM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: kattracks
Please excuse my ignorance, but wha't is Turkey's objection to an Kurdish state?
18 posted on 07/17/2002 12:31:57 PM PDT by TheBattman
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To: kattracks
Another condition should be the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus! LOL! What have you gotto lose? Greek cooperation?
33 posted on 07/17/2002 4:29:32 PM PDT by a_Turk
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