Turkey Official: Agreement on Troop Deal

AP ^ | February 21, 2003 | HARMONIE TOROS

[Indy Pendance]

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) -- Turkey's foreign minister said Friday there was broad agreement with the United States on the conditions for deploying U.S. troops in his country ahead of a possible war in Iraq.

Yasar Yakis did not say when he expected a deal to be reached, saying that depended on ongoing negotiations on some outstanding issues regarding the military, economic and political dimensions of the deployment.

"There is a very broad agreement on all subjects," Yakis said in an interview with CNN International. "The remaining issues are not that many, but I think we will be able to overcome the differences and mutually agree."

Turkish and U.S. officials have been in intense negotiations for weeks on the conditions of the deployment. Washington wants to use Turkey to open a northern front for war with Iraq and has warned Ankara that time is running out.

U.S. Ambassador Robert Pearson said Friday after talks at the Foreign Ministry that the two sides were continuing to overcome obstacles.

One of the main sticking points has been the size of a U.S. aid package to compensate Turkey for losses incurred in a war, diplomats said, although military and political issues were also outstanding.

Yakis appeared confident that Turkey's parliament would ratify an agreement. If Turkey's "expectations are fulfilled, then of course it would increase the chances of the motion being approved," he said.

However, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's leading politician, said he hopes lawmakers from his ruling party would approve the deployment but he would not order them to, an official with his Justice and Development Party said Friday on condition of anonymity.

That raised the possibility that a draft authorizing the deployment could be defeated in parliament. An overwhelming majority of Turks opposed to a war in Iraq, and deputies would have difficulty justifying their decision to back a U.S. deployment to their constituencies.

Washington has been pressing for Turkey to accept a quick agreement. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday he was expecting an answer by Turkey by the end of the day - but the Turks said talks were continuing.

Turkey has demanded $10 billion in grants and $20 billion more in loans, while the United States is proposing a grant of around $6 billion.

Negotiators are discussing the possibility that some of the U.S. grant money could be converted in much larger loans, a Western diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Under the formula being discussed, each billion in grants that is converted would become $6 billion to $10 billion in loans, depending on the length of the loan and the amount of interest paid, the diplomat said.

Washington is also insisting that the loans be linked to a stringent program of economic reform that is backed by the International Monetary Fund. Turkey wants the U.S. aid to be separate from the IMF loans and conditions.

Turks are also worried that war in Iraq will lead to the creation of an independent Kurdish state that would boost aspirations of Turkey's Kurds.

According to the daily newspaper Hurriyet, Turkey is insisting that Iraqi Kurdish groups controlling northern Iraq be disarmed after a war under Turkish supervision.

Toughening Turkey's stance, Erdogan insisted that any agreement had to be in writing and signed by the "highest authority," Anatolia said. The Western diplomat said Washington believed that once the substance of the agreement had been reached, the form would not be a problem.

The standoff comes as U.S. ships loaded with tanks and other equipment are off the Turkish coast, ready to bring in war equipment for the U.S. 4th Infantry Division.

Turkish lawmakers have already authorized the U.S. modernization of Turkish bases and ports.

[Dog Gone]

Three of us posted this story within about 30 seconds of each other, LOL.

This sounds like pretty good news. A few more details to work out, and the little matter of getting the Turkish Parliament to approve it.

[RobFromGa]

This is good news. We welcome the Turkish support. This standoff has been difficult to understand but it is time to put it behind us and move forward together to liberate Iraq.

[Beck_isright]

This was a no brainer. I guess now the leftist media will have to focus on Jordan and Russia as being "pressured" by the Bush administration now to allow the war to proceed.

[a_Turk]

Stick a fork in it... Almost done.

[demlosers]

Yeah, time to unload the 101st and 4 ID's stuff.

[demlosers]

Stick a fork in it... Almost done.

Waiting for the last laugh hehe...

[Grampa Dave]

I wonder how the pro Islmofascist/Kazi Reuters will write up this reality.

This past week and up to yesterday, they were turning out massive BS articles about how Turkey was walking away as our ally.

Turkey need some reassurances and protection. Nato caved in to the Turks, and we will pay for the Turk's help. We payed every ally in WWII and the Cold War to support us.

[geedee]

I wonder if what I read on another thread had anything to do with this "agreement?" It's the one about our post-Saddam plans where the U.S. military would govern Iraq for a time, then turn it over to a U.S. civilian -- maybe a former governor or ambassador -- then slowly changing over to Iraqi control after a period. The article was pretty blunt . . . evidently GW's told Iran and others who might want Iraq's oil to bite a big one. He's also told the Iraqi exiles they won't be installed on any thrones anytime in the near future.

I wonder what all this had to do with this agreement?

[geedee]

Hey, you're still around. I was afraid you mighta let them bad 'ol Canadians run you off yesterday. LOL.

[tomahawk]

God bless our Turkish allies.

[thepainster]

I knew Turkey would be there in the end. It was just a matter of you guys looking out of the best interest of your own country when you have the most leverage.

It reminds me of sitting around in one of the carpet merchants shops in Istanbul. I would sit around and drink the tea, while my wife would do all the haggleing. Man she loved to haggle. She is definitely the Colin Powell of our family!

[geedee]

Hey, could you give us -- or at least me in a FReep mail if you think it doesn't apply enough to this thread -- a quick run-down on Turkey's form of government? I mean the reality of it and not the theoretical BS.

For example, how does the military affect decisions in Turkey? And the various religious sects? Anything like that. I've never been able to get a handle on the machinations behind the Turkish system.

Just something short and sweet for an idiot from West Texas would be appreciated.

[PhiKapMom]

Found it interesting this morning that the troops headed for Turkey are on layover in Romania not in Germany!

Figured Turkey would be with us in the end -- too many years of being allies to let something go sour now.

[geedee]

I've already told you welcome aboard once, but I'd like to welcome you again. You've got the, metaphorically speaking, gonads to be a good FReeper. We need all the help we can get.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Call up Colin and have him put her on the job. Sounds like she would get us a good deal.

[PhiKapMom]

Knew Turkey would be right there with us. They have been our ally for years and that was not going to change. Also believe the press made this bigger than it was!

Don't blame Turkey one bit for seeking the best deal they can get under the circumstances.

[geedee]

Found it interesting this morning that the troops headed for Turkey are on layover in Romania not in Germany!

LOL. I noticed that too. GW ain't no diplomat, huh? I hope ALL the leftist-elites continue to underestimate him.

[RonF]

Don't blame Turkey one bit for seeking the best deal they can get under the circumstances.<.i>

Last time I checked that was the American way ....

[a_Turk]

It's a parliamentary democracy where the president is a figurehead who can veto constitutional amendments.

The prime minister hols the power, but must submit bills to the parliament, where a vote is taken to accept or deny the bill. Simple majority on most issues, but I think it's 2/3 for constitutional stuff.

Everyone is elected and the parliament made up from regional representatives just like th US house.

There is no Senate.

Men and women are both eligible to vote, and to hold office.

There is no discrimination, according to the constitution, based on the various differences between the citizens: sex, color, creed, etc.

There is a problem with term limits.

The military guarantees the secular nature of the republic.

The military is vocal about its opinions, but is also reserved enough not to take center stage unless absolutely necessary.

The terror situation has led to the creation of security courts which operate in addition to the other regular courts. Security courts have two civilian and one military judge sitting.

How's that?