Kitêbxaneya Kurdî

Press about the Kurds

31 Ağustos 2002

Turkey: Attack on Iraq could undermine law

"If we do not have legitimacy in international relations, we would be on the way to going back to the laws of the jungle, and this is something that I don't think American society could accept," says Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.

Senior Turkish official Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, in Washington for talks on Iraq with U.S. leaders, said on Wednesday that a unilateral U.S. decision to attack Iraq would take the world closer to the "laws of the jungle."

Ziyal, who has had talks with Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Colin Powell, Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman, Condoleezza Rice, who is Bush's assistant for national security, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, and Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff said he doubted Americans would back a unilateral attack because of their commitment to the rule of law. Instead of military force, Ziyal, suggested the United States apply what he called "therapy" to Iraq.

"If we do not have legitimacy in international relations, we would be on the way to going back to the laws of the jungle, and this is something that I don't think American society could accept," he told the Washington Institute, a think-tank which specializes in Middle East politics.

Pressed on whether a U.S. attack on Iraq would be legitimate, he said: "The difference is how the U.S. proceeds, the U.N. resolutions and international consensus etc., this is what will give legitimacy to U.S. action."

Turkey prefers long-term therapy

Ziyal praised Bush as being "statesmanlike" in soliciting the opinions of other governments and added the president also will seek a consensus from the American people. "We feel there is a problem in Iraq," Ziyal said. "Our objective is to get Iraq back into the international community without using military force." He suggested trying to tighten trade sanctions designed to force Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to abandon weapons programs. Ziyal included that Turkey would follow and give support to the U.S. if it follows international law and legitimacy.

Ziyal gave detailed reasons for Turkish opposition, including its fear that Iraq might fall apart and that the Kurds in the north might declare an independent state. Ziyal said Turkey would not like to see its "dismemberment" and the creation of a Kurdish state.

"The territorial integrity of Iraq is terribly important to us. Dismemberment of Iraq, which is a possibility in our view, would dangerously upset the existing balances in the region and would create renewed instability with consequences that nobody can predict," Ziyal said.

He said he believed Iraq needed "long-term therapy" rather than "invasive surgery." The international community should enforce U.N. sanctions against Iraq, imposed after Baghdad's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, more rigorously, he said. Ziyal was also expected to meet Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The high level of his meetings indicated the Bush administration was taking the views of Turkey, which provides a base for current U.S. military flights patrolling a "no-fly" zone in northern Iraq, especially seriously.

Ziyal answering a question what Turkey understands from legitimacy said U.N. resolutions or similar international rules. Ziyal was also asked whether Turkey would support a U.S. military strike made with one sided decision said: "We are not at that stage. We prefer a peaceful solution. We hope the U.S.' decision will be one that the whole world will accept."

Ziyal mentioning that Turkey suffered economically during the Gulf war said, "Turkey does not want to suffer once more." Ziyal indicated that Turkey accepts that a problem in Iraq exists. Ziyal indicated that Iraq has enormous potential and can be the leader of the Arab world in the future. Ziyal pointing out that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein spent $300 billion for arms said he damaged his country.

Turks in Bulgaria is example for Turkey's attitude towards Iraqi Turcomans

Ziyal mentioned Turkey's concerns on Iraqi Turcomans. Ziyal stating that Iraqi Turcomans should take in the Iraqi administration and said, "Iraq's future must be determined by Arabs, Kurds, Turcomans and other groups equally."

"Turkey does not see Turcomans as a fifth branch. Turkey is naturally closely interested in Turcomans. However Turkey wants Turcomans to be good citizens in their country. Turkey's approach to Turks in Bulgaria can set an example." Ziyal said.

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said earlier on Wednesday that Turkey, the only NATO country which borders Iraq, continued to oppose any U.S. military campaign to overthrow Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

US getting lonely

Many other world states have urged Bush not to strike Iraq militarily, but the president has said he is committed to ousting President Saddam Hussein from power because he threatens the world by developing weapons of mass destruction. Other skeptics, such as Saudi Arabia, have suggested relying on the United Nations to persuade Iraq to permit inspection of sites where U.S. officials believe chemical and biological weapons are stored.

Turkey, a close ally of the United States, supported the attack on Iraq in 1990 to liberate Kuwait and the anti-terror campaign against al Qaeda that began in Afghanistan last October.

Also, Turkey assists the U.S. and British flights over Northern Iraq.

Turkey has a sizable Kurdish minority, which dominates the eastern and mostly poor part of the country. The Kurds have long complained of discriminatory treatment. The Turkish legislature recently took reform steps, but the government is worried about Kurds in eastern Turkey linking up with Kurds in Northern Iraq.

The Bush administration, meanwhile, has included Kurdish foes of Saddam in meetings with opposition groups. At the same time, the State Department repeatedly has declared its support for Iraq's territorial integrity.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

© Turkish Daily News