Turkey Approves U.S. Use of Bases
Turkey is concerned that a war in Iraq could lead to the division of the country
Suzan Fraser, The Associated Press, ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's foreign minister said Tuesday, December 4 that his country would allow the United States to use military bases here if the United Nations approves military action against neighboring Iraq.

Yasar Yakis spoke as U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was in Turkey to lobby for Turkish support of an operation against Iraq. Turkey is concerned that a war in Iraq could lead to the division of the country, with Kurds in northern Iraq declaring a separate state. That could encourage Kurds in Turkey's southeast, where the military battled Kurdish guerrillas for 15 years in a fight that left 37,000 people dead.

Yakis said that Turkey was against a war, but "if it comes to that, then of course, we will cooperate with the United States because it's a big ally and we have excellent relations with the United States."

When asked to define cooperation, Yakis said, "the opening of air space, first of all, and the utilization of facilities in Turkey."

Turkey has repeatedly said that any action in Iraq must have U.N. approval.

Yakis said the U.N. Security Council would need to approve a second resolution to authorize a war against Iraq.

"The present resolution ... does not allow the automatic resorting to armed intervention," Yakis said. Turkey's support is considered crucial in any war. Turkey already hosts some 50 U.S. aircraft that patrol a no-fly zone over northern Iraq and its bases would be needed if Washington is to open a northern front against Iraq.

But mostly Muslim Turkey has been hesitant to commit to supporting any armed action. Turkey fears that a war in Iraq would destabilize the region, harming its fragile economic recovery program and encouraging Kurdish nationalists in the border region who have battled the state for 15 years.

Earlier, Wolfowitz did not answer directly when asked if the United States had asked for permission to station U.S. troops in Turkey during any war.

"Military and diplomatic planning must proceed because Saddam Hussein must see that we are serious ... that he is surrounded by the international community," Wolfowitz said.

"One thing we did talk about is the deep concern in Turkey about the condition of the Turkish economy," Wolfowitz told reporters after a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul. "We're determined to support Turkey, whatever comes, to make sure that the Turkish economy continues to recover. If there is a crisis in this region, we know that Turkey is going to be one of the countries most affected and we want to make sure we deal with that."

Wolfowitz gave few specifics, but did say that Washington had been working with the International Monetary Fund, which has given Turkey $16 billion in loans to help its economic recovery.

Washington played a crucial role in helping Turkey get those loans.

As part of its strategy to win Turkish support, Washington has been pushing Turkey's bid to join the European Union.

"We've been doing everything that we can," Wolfowitz said.

The visit comes as U.N. weapons inspectors are working in Iraq to check for chemical, biological and nuclear arms.