Bush Presses Turkey Cooperation on Iraq

11/12/2002| IslamWeb

President Bush on Tuesday aggressively courted Turkey's cooperation in any military action against Iraq on two fronts. In a brief meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of Turkey's new ruling political party, Bush contended U.S. access to Turkish bases could actually help avert war. At the same time, the president wooed Turkey with a spirited boost for the NATO ally's bid to join the European Union.

Bush sent a clear signal of his preference for speedy consideration of Turkey's request on a day when EU foreign ministers were meeting on the topic in Brussels, Belgium. Turkey considers a proposal to start membership talks in 2005 as too late, though the proposal appeared to be gaining support among EU members.

Between the president personally pressing European leaders and Secretary of State Colin Powell working the phones, Bush said his "administration is working hard on Turkey's behalf."

Some in Europe believe Turkey must further prove its democratic and economic credentials to win entry into the 15-nation bloc.

But Bush "thinks it's very important that the EU give consideration to a nation like Turkey, an Islamic democracy, an emerging country that certainly has made tremendous strides in terms of integration into Europe," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.

Erdogan offered effusive praise for the Bush administration's support. "But," he said, prompting laughter, "it shouldn't end here."

Given the U.S. agenda in the region, that seemed likely.

Iraq's northern neighbor is seen as a critical potential staging area in any U.S.-led attack against Iraq President Saddam Hussein's regime. Turkey hosts some 50 U.S. aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone over northern Iraq, and during the 1991 Gulf War, the United States launched air raids against Iraq from Turkish territory.

During a visit to Turkey by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz last week, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said his country would let the United States use Turkish military bases for an operation, but only if the United Nations signs on to the use of force. Yakis later backtracked and said his remarks did not constitute a commitment to participate in a military operation.

Public opinion in the Muslim country runs overwhelmingly against letting the United States use military facilities or position troops there - as the Pentagon would like - for action against Iraq.

Turkey's leaders, including its new government, also have worried a military operation could hurt the country's sagging economy or bring a rush of Kurdish refugees from Iraq.

Erdogan told reporters after his meetings that discussion of Iraq was limited to talks on defusing the conflict through peaceful means.

"The president ... believes very strongly that the stronger the world is, the greater the chance of averting war, because Saddam Hussein will, indeed, react to that strength and pressure," Fleischer said.

Bush pressed that argument to Erdogan, saying Turkey's acquiescence on the troop and base issues would help convince Saddam the world is serious about disarming him, a senior White House official said on condition of anonymity. Bush also promised Erdogan that any war would be swift and victorious, the official said.

With the actual negotiations being conducted through lower-level diplomats, it was not necessary for Erdogan to respond, the official said.

Fleischer said the leaders discussed "ways that we could cooperate," but refused to provide specifics.

Bush's talks with Erdogan came as the president dropped in on a meeting originally scheduled solely with national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. In a sign of the administration's intensive wooing of Turkey, the White House took the rare step of inviting reporters - not usually privy to Rice's meetings, even when the president briefly joins them - to listen to the first few minutes.

During the meeting, Bush also reminded Erdogan that if there is war, the United States would insist that Turkey not move into the adjoining Kurdish territories of Iraq. "The United States is committed to making certain that Iraq is whole," Fleischer said.

Erdogan did not respond, the official said.

PHOTO CAPTION

President Bush, right, shakes hands with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left,the leader of Turkey's ruling AK Party, as they participates in a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002 in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)