Turkey, US Discuss Regime Change in Iraq

July 16, 2002
By Seva Ulman

ANKARA, Turkey, July 16 (UPI) -- U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz met with Turkish officials Tuesday to discuss possible plans to force Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq, Turkish officials familiar with the talks told United Press International.

The talks came amid ongoing calls by the Bush administration to oust the Iraqi president. "We cannot wait indefinitely for (Iraq) to strike us," a source quoted Wolfowitz as telling Turkish officials.

The source characterized the U.S. posture communicated by Wolfowitz as "more forceful" than when U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney visited Ankara in March.

Speaking to the press after his meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Wolfowitz declined to provide details of any possible military campaign against Iraq.

"We discussed many, many issues: bilateral defense issues, economic issues and a wide range of regional issues," he said.

The U.S. team included Mark Grossman, a senior State Department official and former U.S. ambassador to Ankara along with Gen. Joseph Ralston, the commander of the U.S. European Command.

Ecevit, who had been briefed Monday by senior military and foreign ministry officials on a possible U.S. attack on Iraq, reiterated Turkey's opposition to a military operation. He told Wolfowitz that any regime change in Iraq should be realized by the Iraqi people themselves.

However, in an important change in stance, Turkey said it would consent to the use of Incirlik Air Base -- used by U.S. and British forces patrolling the no-fly zone in northern Iraq -- in any operation. The zone was set up in the wake of the Gulf War in 1990-91 to protect Kurds in the region.

Turkey remains unwilling to take part in a land operation, partly because of the huge financial loss it suffered as a result of the Gulf War.

Wolfowitz, meanwhile, attempted to ease Turkey's fear that a military operation against Iraq could lead to the formation of a Kurdish state in northern Iraq.

"Our position is clear on that, the U.S. is against a separate Kurdish state," Wolfowitz told reporters.

"Whatever happens in Turkey, it interests the United States," he said.

Wolfowitz arrived in Istanbul Sunday before leaving for Afghanistan to attend a conference. At a dinner there, he was quoted saying that a military action may not take place before winter. He also said Turkey could benefit both politically and financially from the Iraqi leader's departure.

Wolfowitz visit comes as Turkey is enduring a political crisis. The three-party coalition led by Ecevit lost its majority in the Parliament, forcing the leaders to name a date of early elections to be held later this year.

The three leaders issued a statement Tuesday saying they have agreed to early elections to be held in November.

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20020716-111252-3403r