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Turkey puts off
vote on U.S. troops
Ankara |Reuters | 28-02-2003
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Turkey's parliament voted yesterday to delay until tomorrow a debate on a
deal to allow the deployment of thousands of U.S. troops.
In a fresh blow to U.S. preparations for a possible war on neighbouring
Iraq, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had called the vote
after discussing the issue at a party meeting but it remained unclear why
the AKP wanted the delay.
Its leader Tayyip Erdogan had said on Wednesday he expected the debate to
be held on Thursday barring the unexpected - an apparent reference to
talks on U.S. cash for Turkey.
The United States is pressing for a quick decision now on permission for a
secondary "northern front" which military experts say would take
pressure off a possible main invasion force pushing to Baghdad from the
south. It had expected a final go-ahead over a week ago and troopships
wait off the coast.
"U.S. officials have made the Turkish side aware at a high level that
time is critical and further delay is not helpful," a U.S. official
said.
AKP deputies may want to await a meeting on Friday of the powerful
National Security Council, a body that includes the country's political
and military leadership. There could also be problems sealing the
multi-billion dollar U.S. aid package.
After months of negotiations between Ankara and Washington, a deal appears
close that would give Turkey up to $30 billion in grants and loan
guarantees to help cushion its frail economy against the impact of a war
it has long resisted.
The road to a vote has been long and tortuous for Turkey and for the AKP,
a party viewed with suspicion by the military for its Islamist roots.
The AKP is reluctant to sacrifice its domestic popularity in a war many
fear could deepen economic crisis and bring chaos to Turkish borders. But
its leaders know Turkey would suffer if it refuses to help the United
States and forfeits financial help.
Party chiefs expect the measure to pass if they back it.
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