Turkey gives up on Iraq deployment

Turkey gives up on Iraq deployment


Turkey's President  Ahmad Necdet Sezer considers the controversial issue of
deploying Turkish troops in neighbouring Iraq as "closed."


It was the first time a Turkish statesman had indicated a serious setback in
the deployment plan although the statement did not spell out whether the
president thought troops would ultimately be sent or not.

"For me this question is closed," Sezer said on Wednesday at a reception
marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish republic.

Back-pedalling

The United States originally asked Ankara for military help in Iraq, but then
appeared to back-pedal on the idea in the face of opposition from Iraq's
governing council.

"It is very difficult to reconcile the necessary conditions for deploying
troops," Sezer was quoted as saying.

Turkey's parliament three weeks ago voted in favour of the deployment despite
widespread public opposition, with some 80% of the public against dispatching
soldiers.

On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul accused the US of ineptly
handling the issue.

"We are not going to undertake anything as long as there are hesitations .
everything concerning us should be very clear, everybody should say yes," Gul
said.

Faced with opposition from Iraq's interim leadership, the US is no more seen
to be pushing for the Turkish troops.

Many Turkish politicians, including ministers, have expressed relief at the
prospect of shelving the deployment plan, which has also come under fire from
fellow Muslim nations.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D75ADA8C-ECCB-41C0-B960-9131AF87FA5E.htm

--
Macdonald Stainsby
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope
                            --Bertolt Brecht



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