Turkish troops have reportedly entered northern Iraq, despite opposition from the US.
A 1,500-strong commando force has crossed the border, a Turkish military official told Reuters news agency.
The Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had earlier announced that troops would move into the Kurdish-controlled north to stop an influx of refugees into Turkey and to prevent what he called "terrorist activity".
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that, ''we don't have an eye on Northern Iraq, but the region should not be a nest of terrorism.''
Gul said, ''I told them that our sensitivity was that the region should not be a nest of terrorism by making use of the vacuum again, and that everybody should show understanding to this. I expressed them that we don't have any intention beyond this. I explained that those in Northern Iraq were not foreigners to us, and that they still have passports we have given to them. I said Turkey supported them in economic means.''
this time around, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is very determined to hold back the flow of Iraqi refugees in northern Iraq. Turkey will allow only 80,000 Iraqi refugees to enter its territories. That?s why Turkey has to deploy its troops in northern Iraq and provide Iraqi refugees with humanitarian aid at the refugee camps established there.Time this around, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is very determined to hold back the flow of Iraqi refugees in northern Iraq. Turkey will allow only 80,000 Iraqi refugees to enter its territories. That?s why Turkey has to deploy its troops in northern Iraq and provide Iraqi refugees with humanitarian aid at the refugee camps established there.
Turkey and the US held detailed discussions during their recent negotiations on the possible deployment of US troops on Turkish soil and reached an agreement at that time. But since the Turkish Parliament rejected the proposal on the deployment earlier this month, the guidelines laid down after those talks no longer apply.
However, when we ask Foreign Ministry officials how coordination between Turkish and US will be ensured, we?re struck by the lack of straight answers. In fact, despite all the intense negotiations, Turkey and the US failed to sign any written agreements covering these issue. Turkish diplomats said that the memorandum of understanding which Turkey and the US agreed would regulate all issues related to coordination between the two countries? armies. But what about the US? Will the US troops remember their country?s agreement with Turkey?
The greatest challenge that Turkey will have to face is this lack of any written agreement. Conceivably, the two armies might come face to face when holding two separate operations within the same territories.
The second challenge facing Turkey is the Turkmen issue. Neither the US nor Kurdish groups has accepted including ethnic Turkmen groups into the Iraqi Leadership Council to be established in the postwar period. Turkish officials have stated that the Turkmen issue might be resolved after the war ends. How realistic is that? We must wait and see?
In brief, Turkey faces two important challenges which might lead to more serious problems in the future. Under such circumstances all we can say is, ?May God protect our soldiers in northern Iraq!?
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION
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