From Green Bay to the Persian Gulf Gulf War Articles
Turkish Parliament Extends Provide Comfort Mandate
Voice of America
Tue, 6/18/96
INTRO: THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT TUESDAY EXTENDED THE MANDATE OF A
U-S LED MILITARY OPERATION BASED IN SOUTHERN TURKEY TO PROTECT
KURDS IN NORTHERN IRAQ FROM POSSIBLE ATTACK BY IRAQ. BUT AS
AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT MADE
CLEAR THE EXTENSION WAS A TEMPORARY ONE TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR
TALKS.
TEXT: THE OPERATION, DUBBED "PROVIDE COMFORT," IS MADE UP OF
ALLIED FORCES COMPRISING AMERICAN, FRENCH, TURKISH AND BRITISH
WARPLANES, WHICH CONDUCT DAILY RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS IN WHAT'S
CALLED THE "NO FLY" ZONE OVER NORTHERN IRAQ.
THE FORCE WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE WAKE OF THE IRAQI KURDS FAILED
REBELLION AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN AT THE END OF THE 1990 GULF WAR.
ITS PRESENCE IS DEEMED CRUCIAL TO THE SECURITY OF AN ESTIMATED
THREE AND HALF MILLION KURDS IN NORTHERN IRAQ.
MANY TURKS, HOWEVER, BELIEVE THE OPERATION'S REAL AIM IS TO
OVERSEE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE IN
NORTHERN IRAQ.
TURKISH POLITICIANS, INCLUDING LEADER OF THE PRO-ISLAMIC WELFARE
PARTY, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, AND LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEFT
PARTY, BULENT ECEVIT, HAVE LONG CAMPAIGNED FOR THE DEPARTURE OF
THE ALLIED FORCE.
MR. ECEVIT, WHOSE PARTY CONTROLS 70 SEATS IN THE 550-MEMBER
TURKISH PARLIAMENT, HAD BEEN THREATENING TO VOTE AGAINST THE
EXTENSION. TOGETHER WITH THE ISLAMISTS, WHO HAVE 158 SEATS IN THE
PARLIAMENT, MR. ECEVIT COULD HAVE BLOCKED THE EXTENSION.
BUT HE WAS PERSUADED AT THE LAST MINUTE NOT TO DO SO BY TURKISH
PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ. TURKISH OFFICIALS ARGUE THAT THE
DEPARTURE OF THE FORCE COULD PROVOKE A MASS EXODUS OF SOME
ESTIMATED THREE AND A HALF MILLION IRAQI KURDS TOWARDS THE
TURKISH BORDER.
MANY, INCLUDING PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ, BELIEVE THAT THE TERMS OF
THE AGREEMENT NEED REVISION. PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY TURKISH
DEFENSE MINISTER OLTAN SUNGURLU TO HIS U-S COUNTERPART, DEFENSE
SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY, INCLUDE MOVING THE OPERATION'S COMMAND
CENTER FROM ITS PRESENT LOCATION IN THE NORTHERN IRAQI BORDER
TOWN OF ZAKHO TO THE TURKISH BORDER TOWN OF SILOPI.
BUT U-S OFFICIALS THINK SUCH A MOVE WOULD ENCOURAGE IRAQI
PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN TO INCORRECTLY BELIEVE THAT WESTERN
RESOLVE TO PROTECT THE KURDS IS WEAKENING. OVER THE NEXT MONTH,
TURKISH AND U-S OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATING
THE TERMS OF OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT, BEFORE IT IS SCHEDULED TO
EXPIRE AT THE END OF JULY. (SIGNED)
