Iraqi, U.S. officials court Turkey over war threat
Ayla Jean Yackley, ANKARA, Turkey (Reuters) - Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz urged Turkey Monday September 30 not to support any U.S. strike against Baghdad after a U.S. envoy met Turkish officials to rally support against the Gulf nation.

Aziz said threats from the United States posed a danger to the entire region and especially Turkey, which publicly opposes any war against its neighbor Iraq.

Ankara fears damage to its already weak economy, the danger of a Kurdish uprising spilling over onto its own soil and wants to avoid the refugee flood that marked the 1991 Gulf War. But Washington, which has warned it might strike Iraq because it views its weapons program as a danger, requires Turkish military help, especially to use air bases to attack Iraq from the north.

Turkey for its part needs U.S. help in battling economic crisis and wants a role in planning any new political order in Iraq if President Saddam Hussein is overthrown.

Aziz described as "comical" U.S. charges Iraq was a threat to the United States. "Iraq is a threat to nobody," he said.

"London and Washington are using these 'threats' as an excuse to start an attack," he told reporters at Ankara airport.

"We want Turkey to understand that America's threats against us are baseless. These threats are not only threats to Iraq but to the whole region, and especially to Turkey."

Asked about possible Turkish support for U.S. strikes, Aziz said, "We are confident Turkey will take a stance that benefits its own interests."

CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO FIRES

Turkey is caught between two fires, hard put to turn its back on its main ally America but hearing more than a faint ring of truth in Aziz's warning of turmoil in Turkey and the region.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Elizabeth Jones said after talks with Turkey's foreign minister just before Aziz's arrival that the United States was working hard with Turkey and other countries to agree a U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq.

"There's a big discussion under way in the Security Council right now on how to make sure that not only the inspectors go back in but that disarmament actually occurs in Iraq. "That's the goal, that's been the goal since the end of the Gulf War and that continues to be the goal," she said.

Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel told reporters: "We conveyed our concerns one by one, and they took note."

Iraq denies U.S. charges it is developing chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

The visits of Aziz and of Jones -- she will also meet military chiefs -- focus attention on the prospect of turmoil on Turkey's southeastern border just as uncertainty looms ahead of elections in November in Turkey.

Fears of conflict are already unsettling markets and holding up interest rates on Turkey's huge domestic debt. If war comes, anything other than a quick, decisive campaign may derail a $16 billion IMF crisis pact and slash key tourism revenues.

"It will benefit both of us, be it Iraq or Turkey, to prevent these attacks," Aziz said.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said at the weekend there were "no problems" in ties with Iraq. Last week he said Baghdad should be given a chance to prove its sincerity after agreeing to allow U.N. arms inspectors back after a four-year gap.

Ankara has tried to improve diplomatic and commercial ties with Iraq, despite hosting U.S. warplanes patrolling a "no-fly" zone over northern Iraq since the end of the 1991 Gulf War.