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Turkey Not Yet Ready to Decide on US Troops |
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Source: Voice of America News; issued Feb. 20, 2003
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ANKARA --- Turkey says it expects to decide in a few days whether to allow U.S. troops to use Turkish bases for a possible war in Iraq.
Turkish officials say parliament must authorize any government decision, and lawmakers do not plan to meet until next week. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul says he will make a statement on the issue Friday. Ankara has asked for $30 billion in U.S. aid in return for the use of its strategic bases and ports.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday that a package of $26 billion in grants and loan guarantees is as high as the United States is prepared to offer to compensate Turkey for war-related economic damage.
Mr. Powell said the size and type of assistance Washington is willing to provide is firm, but there still may be some creative things that can be done. He did not elaborate.
The United States is pushing Turkey for a decision soon so that up to 40,000 troops could be available to invade Iraq by land from the north. (Ari Fleisher) A spokesman for President Bush says the United States will pursue other options, if Turkey does not allow U.S. forces on its soil.
Most U.S. forces are positioned south of Iraq in Kuwait and the Persian Gulf region. U.S. officials have said invading Iraq from the north could shorten the military campaign, and save many lives.
Turkish citizens are overwhelmingly opposed to military action against Iraq. (ends)
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Turkey Continues To Stall On US Deployment |
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Source: Detsche Welle German radio; issued Feb. 21, 2003
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Turkey is expected to release a statement this Friday on whether it will allow U.S. troops to use bases there in a possible war against Iraq.
Ankara is after an aid package totalling $30 billion in aid to help offset any economic losses from a possible war against Iraq. The U.S. is offering a deal amounting to $6 billion in grants plus $20 billion in loan guarantees.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that offer was as high as Washington could go. Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul told reporters he would make a statement on Friday on the latest developments in the negotiations.
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