Turkey relents on sending troops

‘‘As it is known, there is a Turkish military presence in northern Iraq,’’ the general said, without specifying the number of soldiers or the type of equipment Turkey already has in Iraq.
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‘‘Our biggest concern is an attack on our position or a large refugee crisis from an unexpected development in the war or an attack on our stability from the armed elements in the region,’’ the general said. He added that if Turkey did send new troops, it would do so only in coordination with the United States.
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American and European officials have pressed Turkey not to send forces into northern Iraq, fearing that their presence would inflame the passions of Kurdish militias that are helping small numbers of American troops secure the area. Iraqi Kurds fear that Turkey’s chief aim is to curb their autonomy, while Turkey is concerned that any Iraqi Kurdish moves toward independence could encourage secession among Turkey’s own Kurdish minority.
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Turkey told its Western allies Monday that it planned to create a buffer zone up to 20 kilometers (12 miles) deep to contain refugees in northern Iraq if there were a mass exodus.
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But on Wednesday, Ozkok backed away from those plans. ‘‘We have no desire to establish a permanent buffer zone,’’ he said. It is unclear why the military had a change of heart, but perhaps it had to do with White House plans to offer a $1 billion grant to Turkey, which could be leveraged into $8.5 billion in loans or loan guarantees, subject to congressional approval, to cushion the economic effects of war.
.
The White House first offered $6 billion in direct aid, which could be used to get $24 billion in loans, before the Turkish Parliament voted March 1 not to permit the deployment of 62,000 American troops here. Late last week, the Parliament authorized overflight rights for American warplanes attacking targets in northern Iraq. The beleaguered Turkish markets rose for the second consecutive day on reports of the American aid.
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It was a humbling day for Ozkok, widely considered the most powerful man in Turkey, the supreme commander of a semiautonomous military and a man who is not used to having to explain himself. Though the general did not answer questions from reporters, he could not resist taking a shot at American diplomats, who have pressured Turkey not to intervene militarily in northern Iraq.
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‘‘I have difficulty understanding those who claim there is a threat to them across the ocean,’’ the general said. ‘‘And when Turkey says the same threat exists on the other side of its border, this is found to be unbelievable.’’
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He added: ‘‘If things get out of control, I hope our friends will not ask us take action that they oppose now.’’
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Though he said the Turkish force along the Iraqi border was intended to keep the peace and provide relief aid, Ozkok did not say when the border would be open to international aid agencies trying to reach Iraqi refugees.
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Kurdish officials say there is no refugee crisis in northern Iraq and no need for Turkish intervention. But Human Rights Watch warned Friday that the Kurdish government and international aid groups did not have enough food, tents and supplies for a refugee crisis. Some aid groups disagreed.
.
‘‘There are not many tents,’’ said Dr. Giorgio Francia, a manager for Relief International of Los Angeles. ‘‘But there are also not that many refugees.’’
.
Hundreds of thousands of Kurds fearing chemical attack by Saddam Hussein are believed to have fled major cities in Iraq. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of them are living in the open in caves, tents, trucks and buses.
.
Kurdish opposition to a Turkish incursion remains adamant. A young policeman in Kani Masi, Iraq, a few kilometers from where Turkish soldiers and tanks are massed, said Tuesday that he had blunt orders from his superiors — ‘‘to resist and fight the Turks.’’
.
Was he ready to die in what would likely be a fruitless effort to stop tanks with assault rifles? ‘‘I am ready to sacrifice,’’ he said. Decision eases fears of a separate war with Kurds in Iraq

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey The head of the Turkish military said Wednesday that his country would not send new troops into northern Iraq, barring human catastrophe or open warfare between rival Kurdish factions. ‘‘This is not our war,’’ said General Hilmi Ozkok, the armed forces chief of staff, reading from a text at a military base here. ‘‘This is not our mission.’’ Ozkok’s announcement eased fears of a war within a war on the northern front, though he did say that he reserved the right to send forces into Iraq if the situation there spun out of control. A Turkish-led peacekeeping force of several hundred troops has been in northern Iraq since 1997 enforcing a cease-fire between Kurdish groups. feb. 20 chivers story on this force put the number at 400, tho most are not turks.
.
‘‘As it is known, there is a Turkish military presence in northern Iraq,’’ the general said, without specifying the number of soldiers or the type of equipment Turkey already has in Iraq.
.
‘‘Our biggest concern is an attack on our position or a large refugee crisis from an unexpected development in the war or an attack on our stability from the armed elements in the region,’’ the general said. He added that if Turkey did send new troops, it would do so only in coordination with the United States.
.
American and European officials have pressed Turkey not to send forces into northern Iraq, fearing that their presence would inflame the passions of Kurdish militias that are helping small numbers of American troops secure the area. Iraqi Kurds fear that Turkey’s chief aim is to curb their autonomy, while Turkey is concerned that any Iraqi Kurdish moves toward independence could encourage secession among Turkey’s own Kurdish minority.
.
Turkey told its Western allies Monday that it planned to create a buffer zone up to 20 kilometers (12 miles) deep to contain refugees in northern Iraq if there were a mass exodus.
.
But on Wednesday, Ozkok backed away from those plans. ‘‘We have no desire to establish a permanent buffer zone,’’ he said. It is unclear why the military had a change of heart, but perhaps it had to do with White House plans to offer a $1 billion grant to Turkey, which could be leveraged into $8.5 billion in loans or loan guarantees, subject to congressional approval, to cushion the economic effects of war.
.
The White House first offered $6 billion in direct aid, which could be used to get $24 billion in loans, before the Turkish Parliament voted March 1 not to permit the deployment of 62,000 American troops here. Late last week, the Parliament authorized overflight rights for American warplanes attacking targets in northern Iraq. The beleaguered Turkish markets rose for the second consecutive day on reports of the American aid.
.
It was a humbling day for Ozkok, widely considered the most powerful man in Turkey, the supreme commander of a semiautonomous military and a man who is not used to having to explain himself. Though the general did not answer questions from reporters, he could not resist taking a shot at American diplomats, who have pressured Turkey not to intervene militarily in northern Iraq.
.
‘‘I have difficulty understanding those who claim there is a threat to them across the ocean,’’ the general said. ‘‘And when Turkey says the same threat exists on the other side of its border, this is found to be unbelievable.’’
.
He added: ‘‘If things get out of control, I hope our friends will not ask us take action that they oppose now.’’
.
Though he said the Turkish force along the Iraqi border was intended to keep the peace and provide relief aid, Ozkok did not say when the border would be open to international aid agencies trying to reach Iraqi refugees.
.
Kurdish officials say there is no refugee crisis in northern Iraq and no need for Turkish intervention. But Human Rights Watch warned Friday that the Kurdish government and international aid groups did not have enough food, tents and supplies for a refugee crisis. Some aid groups disagreed.
.
‘‘There are not many tents,’’ said Dr. Giorgio Francia, a manager for Relief International of Los Angeles. ‘‘But there are also not that many refugees.’’
.
Hundreds of thousands of Kurds fearing chemical attack by Saddam Hussein are believed to have fled major cities in Iraq. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of them are living in the open in caves, tents, trucks and buses.
.
Kurdish opposition to a Turkish incursion remains adamant. A young policeman in Kani Masi, Iraq, a few kilometers from where Turkish soldiers and tanks are massed, said Tuesday that he had blunt orders from his superiors — ‘‘to resist and fight the Turks.’’
.
Was he ready to die in what would likely be a fruitless effort to stop tanks with assault rifles? ‘‘I am ready to sacrifice,’’ he said. Decision eases fears of a separate war with Kurds in Iraq

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey The head of the Turkish military said Wednesday that his country would not send new troops into northern Iraq, barring human catastrophe or open warfare between rival Kurdish factions. ‘‘This is not our war,’’ said General Hilmi Ozkok, the armed forces chief of staff, reading from a text at a military base here. ‘‘This is not our mission.’’ Ozkok’s announcement eased fears of a war within a war on the northern front, though he did say that he reserved the right to send forces into Iraq if the situation there spun out of control. A Turkish-led peacekeeping force of several hundred troops has been in northern Iraq since 1997 enforcing a cease-fire between Kurdish groups. feb. 20 chivers story on this force put the number at 400, tho most are not turks.
.
‘‘As it is known, there is a Turkish military presence in northern Iraq,’’ the general said, without specifying the number of soldiers or the type of equipment Turkey already has in Iraq.
.
‘‘Our biggest concern is an attack on our position or a large refugee crisis from an unexpected development in the war or an attack on our stability from the armed elements in the region,’’ the general said. He added that if Turkey did send new troops, it would do so only in coordination with the United States.
.
American and European officials have pressed Turkey not to send forces into northern Iraq, fearing that their presence would inflame the passions of Kurdish militias that are helping small numbers of American troops secure the area. Iraqi Kurds fear that Turkey’s chief aim is to curb their autonomy, while Turkey is concerned that any Iraqi Kurdish moves toward independence could encourage secession among Turkey’s own Kurdish minority.
.
Turkey told its Western allies Monday that it planned to create a buffer zone up to 20 kilometers (12 miles) deep to contain refugees in northern Iraq if there were a mass exodus.
.
But on Wednesday, Ozkok backed away from those plans. ‘‘We have no desire to establish a permanent buffer zone,’’ he said. It is unclear why the military had a change of heart, but perhaps it had to do with White House plans to offer a $1 billion grant to Turkey, which could be leveraged into $8.5 billion in loans or loan guarantees, subject to congressional approval, to cushion the economic effects of war.
.
The White House first offered $6 billion in direct aid, which could be used to get $24 billion in loans, before the Turkish Parliament voted March 1 not to permit the deployment of 62,000 American troops here. Late last week, the Parliament authorized overflight rights for American warplanes attacking targets in northern Iraq. The beleaguered Turkish markets rose for the second consecutive day on reports of the American aid.
.
It was a humbling day for Ozkok, widely considered the most powerful man in Turkey, the supreme commander of a semiautonomous military and a man who is not used to having to explain himself. Though the general did not answer questions from reporters, he could not resist taking a shot at American diplomats, who have pressured Turkey not to intervene militarily in northern Iraq.
.
‘‘I have difficulty understanding those who claim there is a threat to them across the ocean,’’ the general said. ‘‘And when Turkey says the same threat exists on the other side of its border, this is found to be unbelievable.’’
.
He added: ‘‘If things get out of control, I hope our friends will not ask us take