Northern Watch mandate will continue for the next 6 months

The multinational air force operation consisting of U.S.,British and Turkish air units operating over Kurdistan Region of Iraq was extended for the next six months by the Turkish parliament.

"The motion is passed," Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin said. The mandate for the joint US, British and Turkish force based at Incirlik air base in southeastern Turkey was last renewed in June of this year by Turkish deputies.

"Northern Watch" replaced the"Operation Provide Comfort" force for northern Iraq, which was first established in 1991 after an Iraqi uprising was suppressed by Iraqi forces loyal to the Iraqi government following the Gulf War in 1991.

Northern Watch was deployed to protect the 4 million Kurds in northern Iraq from any attack by forces loyal to the Iraqi government.

The deployment of foreign forces in Turkey requires Parliament's permission; therefore the government yesterday asked Turkish deputies to approve an extension before the current mandate of Northern Watch expires on December 31, 1997.

The parliament had stipulated in its original decision that Northern Watch operate "according to the mission and spirit of UN Security Council resolutions, and that the multinational force is to observe a number of principles and conditions set by Turkey."