Turkey links U.S. troops to aid deal

Reuters, [17 February 2003]

ISTANBUL (Reuters)—Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis says Turkey will not open its territory to U.S. troops ahead of a possible war in Iraq without an agreement on financial aid to help cover the cost of the conflict.

The United States wants urgent Turkish approval of plans to set up a ’northern front’ against Baghdad from Turkey’s southern border, but Ankara has dragged its feet fearing it may not be adequately recompensed for its support.

The question of whether or not we send the proposal (to parliament) will come onto the agenda only after an agreement. I can’t give a time because first we have to reach an agreement, Yakis told the state-run Anatolian news agency.

Of course if there’s no agreement that will form the basis for the motion, on what basis can we submit the motion (to parliament)? he asked on Monday.

Yakis met U.S. President George W. Bush last week in Washington, where the president laid out the package the United States was offering.

Parliament speaker Bulent Arinc said earlier the government would not present a proposal allowing U.S. troops to use Turkish territory to parliament on Tuesday, when Washington had hoped it would get a ’green light’ to forge ahead with its pre-war plans.

Military experts say a secondary northern front on Iraq opened from Turkey would raise the pressure on Iraqi troops facing a possible main attack in the flatter south, probably cutting U.S. casualties.

Turkey is looking for a financial package which analysts say could total between $4 and $15 billion (2.5 billion pounds to 9.38 billion pounds) or more to cushion it from the economic impact of any war.

Tourism would be hit, interest rates might rise and oil prices could soar, all threatening a key IMF crisis programme aimed at helping the recovery of the fragile Turkish economy.