Turkey Concerned with U.S. Subversive Policy on IraqTurkey, fearing to see a Kurdish state in the north of neighboring Iraq, is concerned over a revival of the U.S. plan to overthrow Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as the U.S. presidential race gears up.Due to the upcoming election in November, the Iraq issue again rebounded to a priority in the U.S. foreign policy amid domestic criticism of the current Administration concerning the continued reign of Saddam. Al Gore, vice president and Democratic presidential candidate, met last Monday in Washington with Iraqi oppositions, showing that the U.S. government has not given up its policy of toppling Saddam. Gore promised the Iraqi oppositions that the United States would sustain the "no-fly zones" over northern and southern Iraq that the U.S. and its allies imposed with the claimed aim to prevent Saddam from threatening the Kurds and Shiite Muslims in the two regions. Although Turkish parliament last Tuesday approved the government request to extend the term of Operation Northern Watch (ONW), the force composed of U.S. and British warplanes in charge of patrolling the northern no-fly zone using Turkish base, it is clear that Ankara is cold to the idea of removing Saddam. Turkey favors to secure the stability and territorial integrity of Iraq rather than toppling Saddam, which might cause aftershocks in chains, including a possible Kurdish state in northern Iraq bordering southeast Turkey. Ankara loathes to see a spillover of Kurdish independence tendency in northern Iraq into its own restive Kurdish-populated southeast. Since last year's capture of Abdullah Ocalan, chieftain of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Turkey has made remarkable gains in suppressing the PKK, which had waged a 15-year armed campaign for self-rule in southeast Turkey. On numerous occasions, Turkey has stated that it would not permit the founding of an independent Kurdish state in the region and urged Baghdad to reinforce administration over its Kurdish-populated area. The shared concern of an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq prompted the two countries to edge closer toward cooperation. Turkey is reportedly considering upgrading of its diplomatic representation in Baghdad from the level of charge d'affaires to that of ambassador in order to improve bilateral relations. During his recent visit to Baghdad, Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu called on Iraqi government to adopt an "all-embracing policy" for its citizens in northern Iraq and realize reconciliation with the Kurds. |
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