02 April 2003
U.S., Turkey Resolve Outstanding Issues, Powell Says
(April 2: Joint press conference in Ankara with Turkish Foreign Minister Gul) (560) The United States and Turkey have resolved outstanding issues with respect to transporting through Turkey supplies of food and fuel to sustain coalition forces positioned in northern Iraq as well as humanitarian supplies, Secretary of State Colin Powell said April 2 during a press conference in Ankara with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. In addition, Powell said, they agreed on a process to provide "early warning" of potential problems along the Turkish-Iraqi border. "We will rapidly form a coordination committee so that we monitor this closely," he said, "and we will also develop ways in the next several days to ensure that we understand how we would respond to a problem that might arise in northern Iraq that might affect Turkish interests." In response to a question, Powell said they hope to settle "the issue of representation within the coordination group" within a week. He also said "tensions have been lessened... As a result of close consultation, and as a result of the presence of our military personnel in the north and the control that is being exercised by General Franks in the region and our relationship with the Kurds, we have been able to stabilize the situation in a way that I think will keep the likelihood of a need for an incursion very much under control and a low probability." The Secretary called Turkey "an important member" of the coalition aligned against the regime of Saddam Hussein, and he expressed deep appreciation for the over-flight clearances granted by the Turkish government and parliament. Powell and Gul said they also had agreed on ways to expedite humanitarian and construction aid to northern Iraq. These supplies will support humanitarian organizations such as the World Food Program and other groups that will be aiding the people of Iraq. Powell said he hoped for "a very productive relationship between Turkey and Iraq as Iraq, after the conflict, goes about the process of rebuilding its society, rebuilding its country under new leadership, under a new government committed to democracy and protecting all of the people of Iraq." He said "Turkey will have an important role to play in this reconstruction effort, not only helping with direct reconstruction help, but also by the example that Turkey will provide to Iraq of a democracy -- a Muslim democracy living in peace with its friends and neighbors." Answering questions about coalition military actions, Powell stressed that the campaign is being conducted "in a way that is designed to minimize the loss of innocent life or the destruction of property." The coalition is precisely focusing on military targets and "command and control targets that support the military forces of Iraq. And that will continue to be our policy." He added that he regrets any loss of innocent life "that might occur through our action, and also the action of Iraqi units that often fire indiscriminately and air defense missiles that go up and then come down and cause damage within built-up areas." In answer to a reporter's question, Foreign Minister Gul said that future assistance Turkey would provide to the coalition would be within the jurisdiction of the council of ministers and would not require further action by the Turkish parliament. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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