Turkish, U.S. officials fail to agree on conditions of troop deployment

A Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity that outstanding issues remained in the political, economic and military aspects of the deployment. Parliament was unlikely to vote on the deployment before an agreement is sealed, Turkish officials said.
Turkish and U.S. officials have been in intense negotiations for weeks on the conditions of the deployment. Major sticking points have included a multibillion dollar economic aid package to compensate for any losses incurred in a war, the command structure in northern Iraq where Turkey plans to deploy its own troops and the makeup of a post-war Iraq.
Marisa Lino, a top State Department official for military affairs, held talks with Turkish officials until 7 a.m. local time Tuesday, while U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Robert Pearson, left the foreign ministry at 2 a.m.
Turkish press reports said that Turkey would let in 61,000 American troops, but there were conflicting reports on whether the initial authorization would be for three or six months. Diplomats said they could not confirm the figure or give details of the ongoing talks.
Washington has been pressing Turkey to approve the deployment. U.S. ships are waiting off the coast of Turkey to unload supplies for the 4th Infantry Division, which would lead an armored thrust from Turkey into northern Iraq if there is a war.
Although the Turkish Cabinet approved the deployment, the government may have difficulty in convincing the deputies of the ruling Justice and Development Party to back the motion.
Justice has a large majority in parliament, but many deputies have repeatedly spoken out against any war in Iraq. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan are expected to address party legislators later Tuesday.
Gul had trouble convincing his own Cabinet members Monday. Government spokesman Abdullatif Sener said that many ministers had reservations, but "in the end, the ministers unanimously endorsed to send it to parliament." The bill would also authorize Turkish troops to enter northern Iraq in case of war. Tens of thousands of Turkish troops are expected to cross into northern Iraq in a war, a plan that is raising tensions with Iraqi Kurds who control an autonomous zone in the north of the country.
Turkey fears that Iraq could fragment if there is a war, with Kurds declaring an independent state. That, Turks fears, could encourage Turkey’s Kurdish minority.