January 18, 2002
Washington is against Kurdish state, supports Iraq's territorial
unity
Bush tells Ecevit: 'Saddam should go'
Ecevit
warns of "disaster" if U.S. hits Iraq
U.S. President George Bush told Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit that Washington was determined to get rid off Iraqi President Saddam Hussein but it has not made a certain decision or examined possible options on Iraq yet.
Bush's remarks may be a relief to Turkey's concerns that whether its neighbor Iraq could be the next immediate target of a U.S. "anti terrorism" campaign. Washington launched the campaign late last year in retaliation to September 11 attacks and toppled radical Islamist Taleban rulers of Afghanistan for hiding Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the September 11 attacks.
Ecevit met the U.S. President in the White House on the second day of the his official talks in Washington where he hoped to receive U.S. backing in many fields, ranging from increased trade to sending Turkish troops to Afghanistan for an international peace keeping force there.
"Bush told Ecevit that the United States was determined to get rid of Saddam," a source close to the pair's meeting told the Turkish Daily news. "But he also told Ecevit that Washington has not made a decision on Iraq yet and he did not even order for the preparation of options on Iraq," the source added. He said the United States supported Iraq's territorial integrity and was against the establishment of a Kurdish state there.
Ankara is worried that a possible U.S. military attack to bring down longtime U.S. foe Saddam Hussein could result in the division of Iraq and see the birth of a Kurdish state there. Turkish authorities believe the emergence of a Kurdish state would encourage a similar formation within Turkey.
Turkey's billions of dollars of losses during the 1991 Gulf War also fuel Ankara's fears that a war next door could derail an IMF-backed economic programme designed to pull Turkey out of deep economic crisis.
Bush administration, however, advocates the toppling of Saddam Hussein describing an Iraq under his ruling as a threat for neighboring countries and for regional stability. Washington is in close contact with opposition Kurdish groups that has controlled the break away enclave of northern Iraq since from the Gulf War under the protection of a U.S.-led airforce flying out of Turkey.
BUSH ASSURES CONSULTATIONS ON IRAQ
The U.S. President assured Ecevit that Washington would consult with Turkey before taking and implementing any decision on Iraq but asked the Turkish side to do the same in return. Bush emphasized the need for close consultations between the two strategic-partner countries on issues including Turkish plans such as opening up a new border gate with Iraq, the source said.
The future of Iraq were at the heart of Ecevit's official talks this week, but U.S. officials preferred to leave the in-depth discussions on maybe the most sensitive issue of the visit to the highest level contact, the Ecevit-Bush meeting.
"There are different opinions in the United States about Iraq. Anatolia news agency quoted Ecevit as saying after meeting with Vice President Dick Cheney and Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman on the first day of his talks. "Meeting with Bush is crucial for the Iraq issue," Ecevit said after meeting the two separately.
Ecevit before departing for Washington signalled that what matters for Turkey was no longer the Saddam Hussein administration but Iraq's territorial unity. He explained Turkey's concerns to the U.S. president during their meeting. But Turkish authorities are well aware that Ankara could not deter a U.S. military operation on Iraq if the decision was taken. U.S. assurances for beforehand consultations, however, could help ease Ankara's worries.
Ecevit warns of "disaster" if U.S. hits Iraq
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, on an official visit to Washington, has warned that Turkey could face a "disaster" if close NATO-ally the United States attacked southern Turkish neighbour Iraq as part of its military campaign against international terrorism.
Washington vehemently seeks to bring down Iraqi President Saddam Hussein accusing Iraq of sponsoring terrorism and producing mass-destruction weapons under his ruling. But Bush told Ecevit in their meeting earlier in the week that Washington had not decided what to do about Iraq yet and would consult with Turkey at every stage before taking action.
The assurances by the U.S. president initially appeared as a relief for Turkish authorities who fear such a U.S. military strike could end up with the division of Iraq and see the emergence of a Kurdish state there encouraging separatists Kurdish sentiments in Turkey.
Ecevit, however, reiterated Turkish concerns at a news conference in Washington for the U.S. and foreign press. "President Bush strongly emphasized that The United States cannot stand Saddam Hussein," Anatolia news agency quoted him as saying. "Of course, a way-out from this (tension) should be found and will be found. But I hope this won't be a military operation," he said. "Because such a military operation could lead to disaster for Turkey even if it does not attend," Ecevit added.
U.S. launched a fight against international terrorism in response to the September 11, attacks by heavily bombing Afghanistan late last year. The U.S. strikes helped the toppling of Afghanistan's radical Islamist Taleban rulers by the opposition forces there.
Before meeting Ecevit in the White House on Wednesday, Bush urged Iraq to allow a U.N. arms inspection mission on its soil and said otherwise the Baghdad administration would face serious consequences.
TURKEY FEARS OF FINANCIAL BLOW
High among the Turkish worries is that a possible military confrontation close to its borders could destroy an IMF-backed economic programme designed to help Turkey to come out of a financial crisis.
"Turkey has suffered great losses because of the Gulf War. We do not want to see the same thing happening again," said Ecevit. "I am sure we can find another way, a way-out on the Iraq matter. Nobody mentioned a military operation during my meetings anyway," he added. The premier did not elaborate on non-military means that could be used for Iraq.
Ahead of his Washington trip, Ecevit signalled that it was no longer Saddam Hussein but Iraq's territorial integrity that matters for Turkey. The 76-year-old veteran leader favoured improved relations with Baghdad in the past and appointed a new ambassador to Baghdad last year. Opening up a second border gate with Iraq to boost trade between the two countries was among Ecevit's plans.
Debates in Washington whether Iraq should be the next immediate target of the U.S. anti-terrorism drive, however, have had its impacts on Ankara that since kept quiet about improved ties with Baghdad but instead urged for Iraqi permission for U.N. arms inspectors.
Turkey has strategic political and defence ties with the U.S. and allows a U.S.-led air force to use a southern base for patrol flights over the Kurdish-controlled neighboring northern Iraq.
In response to a question if Turkey would allow the U.S. to use its air space and air bases in case of a military operation on Iraq, Ecevit reminded those U.S.-led patrol flights out of Turkey.