Turkish - US Relations in 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Turkish-U.S. relations have overcome a few crises in connection with Iraq war in 2003. While some said the relations were ''on the brink of dying'', the importance of strategic partnership has been revealed.

The strength of relations had an important test with the United States' moving toward war in Iraq as of the beginning of the year. After Iraq war, issues of dispatching Turkish soldiers to Iraq for stability in this country, fight against terrorism and the United States' economic support to Turkey gained importance.

The United States began to gave some signals of its intention to use Turkey as ''northern front'' in Iraq war months before the war which started on March 20, 2003. This intention has been revealed clearly before March. The Turkish parliament approved a draft which allowed airports and ports in some regions that the United States planned to use as base in the war to be modernized.
On the one side, these bases were being modernized, on the other side, military materials that the United States would use in northern front were awaited off Turkish territorial waters. Meanwhile, the parliamentary session that would vote the issue of allowing deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey was waited.

After France, Germany and Belgium prevented NATO from starting preliminary studies to protect Turkey in case of a war in Iraq, U.S. President George W. Bush held especially France responsible for this attitude and expressed his disappointment on the issue.

State Minister Ali Babacan and the then Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis came to Washington at the beginning of February. They started to discuss the issue of the United States' support to Turkey to meet economic loss of the country which might stem from Iraq war in case northern front was opened in Turkey.

News stories which said that the United States offered Turkey an aid package worth 6 billion U.S. dollars to meet loss of Iraq war were published in American press. Later, this figure was also expressed by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The United States put pressure on Turkey to take a decision whether it would allow deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey as soon as possible due to the United States' plan to attack on Iraq before weather got warm because it could make difficult its operational aims.
U.S. President Bush said that they were working on an aid package very closely with Turkey and stated that he hoped an agreement which would satisfy both sides to be reached.

During this period, circles close to the administration said that opening of northern front in Iraq war was very important and stated that it was impossible to succeed in Iraq war without northern front according to news stories in American press.

American press often used some expressions that ''48 hours were given to Turkey'' and ''Turkey had to solve this issue by next Tuesday.'' However, dates that were written in American press did not come true and there were some comments which claimed that the United States used those news stories as a pressure factor on Turkey to take a decision as quickly as possible.

American press began to carry out a campaign of ''what sort of an ally it was'' against Turkey.

Turkish public opinion reacted to some comments and caricatures accusing Turkey of bargaining with the United States in order to allow northern front to be opened in Iraq war. According to some observers, those comments and caricatures affected negatively negotiations which were carried out between Turkey and the United States during that period.

OPTIONS WITHOUT TURKEY

It was revealed that The United States started to discuss ''military options without Turkey'' toward the end of February.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers, White House and Department of State spokesmen gave the message that ''the United States had the capacity to reach its aims with or without Turkey'' during that period.
Washington started to talk on the issue that military planners were working on ''B plan'' foreseeing that thousands of U.S. soldiers would be landed at north of Iraq by C-17 cargo planes, in case a front was not opened from Turkey. It was also said that there was another option that U.S. soldiers would pass Kuwait in south of Iraq and come to north of Iraq by land.

Deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey was disapproved with a few votes margin in a vote which was held in the parliament on March 1. This development disappointed the United States.

American people had an expectation that Turkey would bring the same issue to the agenda of the parliament and put it to a vote again. This expectation was expressed by some important American senators. The then White House spokesman Ari Fleischer used the expression that ''Turkey is the best option.''

U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman made a statement at the beginning of March and said that Turkey might lose the chance to take an important role in the future of Iraq, as it did not allow northern front to be opened.

Grossman warned Turkey not to launch a unilateral initiative in north of Iraq and said that aid package which was discussed earlier was in question if Turkey contributed to Iraq war. Grossman said that if Turkey did not contribute to war, the package would not be on the table.

Some comments which said that the United States' expectation from Turkey continued were made because of American military vessels' being still awaited in the Mediterranean Sea at the beginning of March.

Myers said that if Turkey was not involved in it, they had plans B, C and D in their hands in case of all possibilities.

IRAQ WAR

After the United States understood that northern front would not be opened from Turkey, the issues of U.S. planes' using of Turkish air space and allowing U.S. planes to fly over Turkish air space were brought onto the agenda.

American officials said that even if Turkey allowed U.S. planes to fly over Turkish air space, economic package could not be valid for Turkey and stated that all NATO countries have already allowed U.S. planes to fly over their air spaces to contribute to the war.

American officials and especially Powell warned Turkish troops not to enter north of Iraq a few days before the war. Bush delivered a speech on March 18 and said that he gave Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave the country and stated that he would launch the operation against Iraq on a date that he would decide.
After the war started on March 20, American administration spokesmen said that economic aid package for Turkey was cancelled from now on.

Turkey which was busy with the new government and vote of confidence passed a decision allowing the U.S. planes to fly over Turkish air zone from the parliament.
Fleischer also counted Turkey among ''coalition countries'' which extended support to Iraq war.

Myers announced that U.S. soldiers were transported to north of Iraq by flying over Turkish air space.

Bush asked the U.S. Congress to provide additional budget to be used in Iraq war. An aid worth 1 billion U.S. dollars was also allocated for Turkey especially with effort of Bush's National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. U.S. Congress approved the conditions that ''Turkey should carry on cooperation and humanitarian aid in Freedom Operation for Iraq and Turkish troops should not enter unilaterally the north of Iraq'' for the aid.

Powell visited Turkey at the end of March and warned Turkish troops not to move interior north of Iraq. Powell said that Turkey's decision on deployment of soldiers disappointed the United States, but added that those issues should be left behind and the two countries should focus on the future of relations.

DISAPPOINTMENT OF UNITED STATES

Meanwhile, Operation Northern Watch also ended with starting of Iraq war as Saddam regime was finished.
Speaking to NBC TV channel, Bush said that the United States could not make an effect which it wanted in Iraq as northern front could not be opened.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz expressing his ''disappointment'' with harsh words claimed that Turkish military did not show ''leadership'' on support to the United States in Iraq war. Turkish public opinion reacted to statement of Wolfowitz.

Upon some news stories which said that Wolfowitz asked Turkey to apologize from the United States, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Doug Feith defending Wolfowitz said that there was no such a demand.
People started to make some comments which said that the concept of ''strategic partnership'' between Turkey and the United States which have been expressed since 1999 ''died''.

This comment was also confirmed by U.S. Ambassador Eric Edelman who was appointed by the United States to Turkey and who said that ''they would work for re-construction of strategic partnership'' before he started his term in office in Ankara.

U.S. President Bush called President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on the phone to offer his condolences after quake in southeastern Bingol province and promised that territorial integrity of Iraq would be protected.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal paid a visit to the United States in June and gave American officials a package of proposal including contributions that Turkey could make in re-construction of Iraq.

The package included both proposals of political and economic contributions and also contribution to stability force in Iraq. Ziyal announced that Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul planned to visit the United States soon.

Turkish-U.S. relations had a new crisis after 11 Turkish soldiers were detained by U.S. soldiers in Sulaymaniyah city of Iraq in July 2003.

Aegean Army Commander Gen. Hursit Tolon who had been in the United States to attend hand over ceremony in U.S. Central Command in Florida Tampa told the A.A correspondent in Washington that he would not attend this ceremony with order coming from the General Staff after detention of Turkish soldiers in Sulaymaniyah.
Tolon said that although the number and place of Turkish soldiers was known, the act of the United States did not comply with NATO alliance and friendship.

There were some allegations which said that the United States detained Turkish soldiers in Sulaymaniyah because they planned to assassinate Kirkuk governor in American press.

Tolon said that those allegations were ''made-up''. U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney discussed this issue with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the phone. Powell also talked about the issue with Foreign Minister Gul on the phone. U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sent a letter to Erdogan and explained views of the United States.

Foreign Minister Gul paid a visit to Washington, D.C. at the end of July. The United States' demand on dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq was discussed in detail during Gul's visit to this country. Gul said that this demand would be taken up by the government.

Turkish-U.S. relations which were shaken by two big crises in a short period of time had the opportunity to take a breath because of the U.S. demand on soldiers. U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers who attended August 30 reception which was held in Turkish Embassy in Washington said that they wanted to work with Turkish soldiers in Iraq, but added that the decision belonged to Turkey. Turkey accepted this decision in the parliament on October 7.

However, especially Kurdish members of Iraqi Interim Government Council reacted to dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq.

Upon questions of reporters at an informal meeting of NATO defense ministers in Colorado in October, Rumsfeld said that those objections stemmed from a few people and it should not be taken seriously.

Upon an increase in objections, Rumsfeld said that the result which would be reached on dispatch of Turkish soldiers should be accepted by Turkish government, army, U.S. Central Forces Command and Iraqi Interim Governing Council.

Sides reached a common decision on not sending Turkish soldiers to Iraq for benefits of all sides. U.S. administration became a target of accusations of creating a ''diplomatic failure'' due to its attitude on dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq.

FIGHT AGAINST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK

Turkey asked the United States to take measures against terrorist organization PKK/KADEK militants who were based in north of Iraq. It was one of leading issues in relations between Turkey and the United States after Iraq war.
This issue became one of basic issues in mutual visits between Turkish and American officials after Reassociation Law was approved in the parliament. The action plan on which Turkey and the United States reached compromise in October said that the United States would take measures against terrorist organization PKK/KADEK.
The United States issued a statement and said that it would regard PKK/KADEK which placed its name with Kurdistan People's Congress (KHK) as terrorist organization irrespective of its name.

ATTACKS IN ISTANBUL

Strategic importance of Turkish-U.S. relations was revealed again with terrorist attacks in Turkey on November 15 and 20. U.S. President Bush who offered his condolences gave the message that Turkey and the United States were side by side in fight against global terrorism. American officials offered to extend support to investigations. Relevant units intensified cooperation in intelligence.

Immediately after attacks in Istanbul, U.S. officials said that ''finger prints'' of terrorist organization al-Qaida were seen in attacks in Istanbul. Attackers' having training in Afghanistan and Pakistan during the period of Taliban and cost of blasts strengthened those suspicions.

Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug had been in the United States for high level joint defense group meetings. Basbug gave a message of solidarity against terrorism and announced that the United States was in preparation for an action against terrorist organization PKK in north of Iraq.

Wolfowitz who spoke to reporters with Basbug said that ''attacks in Istanbul were staged to separate Turkey and the United States from each other'', but adding that it would not be achieved.

Despite those solidarity messages, the U.S. Department of State warned its citizens not to travel to Turkey in case there might be new attacks.

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft invited Justice Minister Cemil Cicek to Washington after attacks in Istanbul. Cicek came to Washington in December and held meetings on fight against terrorism with the U.S. officials. Cicek announced that officials of the two countries also worked on Erdogan's visit to the United States in January.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal also came to Washington for meetings of Economic Partnership Commission (EPC) between foreign ministries of the two countries during the same period.

It became clear at those meetings that Turkey was included in the list of countries which could directly compete for tenders worth 18.7 billion U.S. dollars that the United States allocate for reconstruction of Iraq.
The United States excluded some countries such as France, Germany and Russia which did not contribute to Iraq war from the list on the ground of ''national security''. Turkey was included in the list as a ''coalition country'' that offered to send soldiers to Iraq.

CYPRUS, EU, ECONOMY

The United States' economic support to Turkey also continued over 2003. 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan or 1 billion U.S. dollars of donation was allocated for Turkey from additional budget for Iraq war. U.S. support toward Turkey's economic reform program supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also continued.
The United States said at any occasion that it attributed great importance to Baku-Tbilsi-Ceyhan project and Turkey's European Union (EU) membership.

The United States also launched some initiatives on Cyprus issue in 2003. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's Cyprus plan was supported by the United States. It intensified its efforts for finding a solution to Cyprus issue before May 1, 2004 when the Greek Cypriot side will be a member of the EU. Thomas Weston, the special coordinator of the U.S. State Department for Cyprus, accused Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas of being an obstacle in front of a solution and made some statements supporting TRNC opposition to win parliamentary elections on December 14 in order to re-start negotiations based on Annan plan.

ARMENIAN ISSUE

So-called Armenian genocide allegations which often create problems in the U.S. Congress played a role in Turkish-American relations in 2003 as well.

Despite all efforts of Armenian lobby, U.S. President Bush did not use the expression of ''Armenian genocide'' in traditional April 24 speech.

But, high wing of the U.S. Congress launched an initiative on indirect recognition of genocide allegations in the Senate in July.

Armenian lobby in the United States tried to add those allegations in appropriations bill of the U.S. Department of State to be approved. This bill also included so-called Armenian genocide among genocides in past.

New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Joe Lieberman from Democrat Party were among those who supported the bill. This bill was prevented by efforts of Cheney.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING REPORT

The United States' 2003 Human Trafficking Report created some difficulties for Turkey due to sanctions mentioned in the report.

Turkey was included in the list of countries which did not take any step to prevent human trafficking in the report. Turkey was later excluded from the list as it took effective measures and made legal arrangements throughout the year. The report advised to bring limitations in economic aids to countries which were included in the third category.

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