US Says Turkey Won't Get Aid Package
VOA News, 03 Mar 2003 - The Bush administration says Turkey cannot expect to get the bulk of a multi-billion dollar U.S. economic aid package after parliament rejected a U.S. troop deployment.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Monday most of the grants and loan guarantees were to help Turkey prepare for a possible war against Iraq.

He said much of the aid package will not go forth if Turkey is not directly involved in war planning.

But Mr. Boucher said the United States will still continue to help Turkey economically and that the strong friendship and strategic partnership of the two countries will continue.

The Turkish stock market plunged 11 percent Monday and the national currency, the lira, fell four percent against the U.S. dollar when investors found out Turkey will not get the U.S. aid package.

The Pentagon wants to use Turkish military bases to open a second front in northern Iraq in case of war, saying it could save U.S. lives and shorten the fighting. Military planners say they are considering other options, including possibly airlifting thousands of soldiers into northern Iraq.

It is unclear if the Turkish government will resubmit the troop deployment motion to parliament for another vote.