Turkey enters Iraq, does not take part in the fighting, unless the Kurds control Karkouk oil
Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 2/8/2003

The US yesterday made assurances to calm down the fears of the Kurds of a Turkish occupation of northern Iraq by stressing that the Turkish forces, in case they take part in the military operation against Baghdad, will be under the leadership of an international coalition.

Meantime, news reports talked about a Turkish- American agreement stating that the Turkish forces will not take part in the fighting in case Washington vows not to permit the Kurds to control the oil wells in al-Mousel and Karkouk.

The representative of the American President for the Iraqi opposition Zalmai Khalil Zada said in what it seemed as an implicit warning for Turkey against a unilateral military intervention in Iraq that any "armed conflict or action in Iraq should come in the context of the coalition leadership."

Zada added following talks he made yesterday with officials at the Turkish foreign ministry in Ankara replying to questions on the opposition of Kurdish groups in Iraq to the deployment of Turkish forces in the northern part of the country ( Iraq) that the "problem" can be eliminated, noting that he understands the "legitimate concern" of Turkey over the possibility of the flow of Kurdish refugees from Iraq to its borders.

Previous Stories:
  Pressure corrupts democratic values; Turkey's rejection of US ground forces   (2/7/2003)
  Radical: Preparations for the likely American attack against Iraq   (1/28/2003)
  Milliyet: Turkish- American joint military plan concerning Iraq   (1/27/2003)

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