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Turkey to display harsh reaction against US |
22 October 2007Turkey set to display harsh reaction against US
A motion passed in a US House of Representatives committee recognizing Armenian allegations of genocide directed against Turkey as truth has continued to cause tension between the two countries.
In response to the motion, Turkey recalled its ambassador in Washington, Nabi Şensoy. Most recently, members of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and Turkish diplomats declined a dinner invitation from US Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry and the General Staff are trying to work out what sanctions could be imposed on the US if the motion makes it to the floor of Congress.
Murat Mercan, who heads the committee, informed Wilson that the committee members would not be participating in the dinner, which Wilson organized in order to discuss and exchange views on the recent problems between the two countries.
Wilson, whose invitations have never before been rejected, was reportedly unsure how to handle the rejection. The members of the committee from the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) who said they would not be attending Wilson's dinner are Mehmet Ceylan, Suat Kınıklıoğlu, Abd+-lkadir Emin +ûnen, +ûmer +çelik, Ali Rıza Alaboyun, Zeynep Dağı, Metin Yılmaz, Fevzi Şanverdi, Canan Kalsın, H+-seyin Tuğcu, Mehmet Şahin, Mehmet +çer+ði, G+Ân+-l Bekin Şahkulubey, Mustafa Kuş and Necip Taylan. Members of the Republican People's Party (CHP) who are on the committee, Onur +ûyment, Ş+-kr+- Elekdağ, İlhan Kesici, Canan Arıtman and Abdurrezzak Erten, will not be attending the dinner, either, as they were the ones to call on the committee to protest Wilson's invitation. The Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) Metin Erg+-n also said he would be supporting the protest of his fellow committee members.
Turkey expects the United States to take urgent action against terrorists of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) hiding in northern Iraq, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated on Friday, in comments suggesting Ankara hopes to avoid a Turkish military operation in the region.
Parliament last week authorized troops to cross the mountainous border into northern Iraq to track down terrorists of the PKK, who use the region as a base from which to attack Turkish targets. "We expect the coalition forces in Iraq, above all the Americans, to take steps in the current situation," Prime Minister Erdoğan said in televised remarks on Friday. "These steps must be taken to ensure we get good results in the fight against the terrorist organization in northern Iraq. We expect things from the United States rather than from Iraq," he said.
Erdoğan said he would discuss anti-PKK measures with US President George W. Bush when they meet in Washington on Nov. 5.
Erdoğan's statements seem to have already had an effect on the US administration. In a recent statement US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates expressed his opinion that Turkey was not bluffing and it was serious in its consideration of a military incursion.
Meanwhile, if the Armenian resolution passes in the full House of Representatives, shutting down İncirlik Airbase and restricting US use of the Habur border gate with Iraq, two main supply routes the US uses for troops in Iraq, could be measures Turkey might resort to.
Vahit Erdem, who heads the Turkey group in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, in an interview with Today's Zaman said: "The relationship cannot handle more strain. If this happens, it could be damaging both for Turkey and for the US. The two countries should avoid acting emotionally and retreat from this mistake."
On the other hand, Erdem also expressed that Turkey has to continue displaying a stern reaction. "If the resolution is passed in the House of Representatives, the relationship between the two countries would be greatly damaged. The opportunities Turkey provides the US in logistics could end."
Deputy Chairman of the CHP Onur +ûymen shared his views on Erdoğan's recent stern reaction. +ûymen criticized the prime minister for putting the issue off until the planned Bush-Erdoğan meeting in November. "Turkey should say openly what it would do if the resolution is passed," he commented.
+ûymen recalled that when the US imposed a weapons embargo against Turkey after the 1974 military operation on Cyprus, Turkey cut US access to military bases within its borders. "[US Secretary of Defense] Gates knows this can be done. According to the 1980 agreement, the İncirlik base can only be used by the US during NATO operations. However, today we know that the US meets almost all the requirements of its military units from this base. The Habur border gate is currently used extensively by the US. Turkey can notify the US that it will allow that country to use İncirlik only in terms of the 1980 agreement. I think this warning has already been made."
22.10.2007
ERCAN YAVUZ ANKARA, TZ
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22 October 2007
Turkey-US
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