Some 10,000 Turkish soldiers deployed in North Iraq, Ankara to establish security belt
Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 10/15/2002

Turkish defense minister Sbah Eddin Oglo said on Monday that Ankara intends to establish "a security belt" in northern Iraq in order to ensure security along its borders in case the US launches a military operation against Baghdad.

While Oglo also renewed the threats of a military interference to end the separatist objectives of the Kurds in Northern Iraq, intelligence information indicated that Turkey increased the number of its forces deployed in the area from 4,000 to 10,000 troopers.

In an interview with the Turkish NTV network, Oglo said that a large and suuficient "military force can form a security belt in the Iraqi territories in order to ensure the security of our borders." He also stressed that Turkey will receive likely refugees in camps to be installed in the Iraqi side of the borders in case a large displacement movement takes place brought about by an American military operation.

On the separatist objectives of the Kurds in North Iraq, the Turkish defense minister threatened of an interference by the Turkish army. He warned that "if we can not reach results by the force of argument, we have then to move to a higher level and then when it is necessary to interfere." He stressed that "Karkouk can never be a capital for a Kurdish movement. It is an unacceptable matter."

Previous Stories:
  Hurriyet: Irbil meeting alleviated Ankara's concern   (10/9/2002)
  Cim: a new conflict in north Iraq   (10/7/2002)
  Sabah: Turkey and border gates with Syria, Iraq   (10/7/2002)

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