Top politician says Turkey to decide Iraq role soon
Turkey’s top politician today hinted that the government might resubmit a motion to parliament in the coming days authorising the deployment of 62,000 US troops, reversing a decision that upset American war plans.
Parliament on Saturday rejected a government request to authorise the deployment, unsettling Washington’s plans to open a northern front against Iraq. The ruling Justice and Development Party is currently debating whether to resubmit the resolution for a second vote.
“Turkey, for its own security and for Iraq’s territorial integrity, will not remain an observer to the developments, and I believe in the coming days, (Turkey) will decide on how it needs to intervene and which method it needs to use,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his governing party.
Erdogan told his party’s MPs – who are deeply divided on the issue amid strong popular opposition to any war in Iraq – that they had to put the country’s interests ahead of their personal feelings.
More than 90 Justice deputies voted against the troop deployment, leaving the government with three less votes than needed for the motion to be approved.
Politicians have “to take steps not to satisfy their daily emotions but toward the country’s future, towards managing the country’s future,” he said.
The parliamentary debate over letting in US troops have stirred deep emotions in Turkey, where many fear a war will lead to regional instability and undermine Turkey’s economic recovery.
Asked by reporters whether a new resolution would be submitted after by-elections scheduled for Sunday, Erdogan said: “At the moment, no final decision has been made. Both the party and the government are reviewing the developments. There are internal and external developments and steps will be taken according to these developments.”
Erdogan also urged the US to take into account Turkey’s sensitivities in the region. Justice MPs have said they wanted to see new steps from Washington before they approve the deployment.
Turkish and US diplomats negotiated for weeks on the conditions of the deployment, including a €13.7bn aid package aimed at compensating Turkey for any losses incurred in a war.
A western diplomat said Washington believed the two sides had reached an agreement on the conditions and no new talks were necessary.
