Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-03-03

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader calls the super-rights provided to the Turkish Cypriots as a needle in the haystack.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader says he will withdraw if the Turkish Cypirots accept the Annan plan.

[03] Rauf Denktas continues to propagate against the Annan Plan. He behaves as if the Greek Cypriots have no rights just because they constitute the vast majority for millenniums on this island.

[04] Denktas: "The time for going to referendum has not come yet. .The UN document is not at a situation to be submitted to referendum on 30 March".

[05] The Turkish National Security Council discussed Iraq and Cyprus.

[06] The Foreign Minister of Turkey stresses that the Turkish policy on Cyprus has not changed.

[07] CUMHURIYET cites the changes in the new peace plan in favour of the Turkish Cypriots.

[08] Eroglu calls on the inhabitants of the occupied areas to vote against the plan in a possible referendum.

[09] Serdar Denktas "officially" becomes so-called "deputy prime minister" of the puppet regime.

[10] The pseudo-assembly is to discuss tomorrow the issue of the 30 March referendum.

[11] Rally in favour of "sovereignty and existence" will take place in occupied Nicosia.

[12] Turkish Cypriots continue to mobilize in favor of solution and EU accession.

[13] The so-called Minister of Labour, Social Security, Youth and Sports of the pseudostate is visiting Malaysia after invitation.

[14] Twenty six so-called "Deputies" say "yes" and eighteen say "no" to the Annan plan.

[15] The Turkish Grand National Assembly rejected the motion on deploying US troops in Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader calls the super-rights provided to the Turkish Cypriots as a needle in the haystack

Alkan begins by asking Denktas whether the Cypriots will reach the end of the road by 10 March if an agreement is not concluded by then as claimed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. In reply, Denktas says: "It might be the end of the talks. It might be the end of his good-offices mission. It cannot, however, be the end of the road."

Asked whether the Annan plan should be eliminated, Denktas responds: "The Annan plan is not a plan that has been accepted. The first one arrived with immediate pressure on us and on Turkey for it to be accepted. We filed our objections. Then the second one came. The same circles pressured us to accept it claiming that it was a very good plan. Now the third one has arrived. The changes are few for us and many for the Greek Cypriots. The basis of this plan, however, is not right because it has been prepared without even asking what the Cyprus issue is all about. What did Clerides tell his people? He asked them why they had any objections to the plan. This is what he said in his election speeches: This plan enables the withdrawal of the Turkish troops and opens the door to the return of all the refugees. Did you not want these? I also enabled your accession to the EU. What more do you want? He further said: I need another 16 months to complete my mission. What do the Greek Cypriots see when they look at this plan? Does it secure the withdrawal of the Turkish troops? It does. This time it does for certain. With Turkey's accession to the EU, its guarantor rights will be terminated. The military troops that ensure de facto and effective guarantees will be withdrawing." After comparing this plan with the 1960 agreements, Denktas adds: "This should be a sufficient reason to reject the plan. We hope that Turkey will reject it."

Alkan goes on to refer to a statement made by Denktas to the effect that the referendum is aimed at by-passing him and asks whether he is going to the Hague in order to say "no". In reply, Denktas says: "The call made yesterday was for us to reply in the affirmative. When Papadopoulos made a statement today saying that he has not yet made up his mind, that he might even reply in the negative, and that he will go to the Hague even if his reply is in the negative, the situation changed. Now we are invited even if our reply is negative. Why do I have to go all that way to say `no/? I did not understand that."

Questioned as to whether he is considering the possibility of not going to the Hague, Denktas responds: "Let us see. Let us see how things will develop. We will either go or not depending on the developments. We said that we would go. We said that we might go. Now we will be in contact with Ankara, because the document we are supposed to sign in the Hague requires Turkey's signature as well. What will Turkey say to this issue? What will it say to these developments, to this plan? Actually it is not right for me to ask this question because I know what Turkey is saying. I know based on the information we have received. I read a while ago that during the contacts conducted with Annan the Turkish government has defended the points we have."

Asked whether he expects Turkey to adopt a different stand on the Annan plan and the issue of a referendum, Denktas says: "To tell you the truth, I am not expecting."

Asked what an ideal solution would be, Denktas explains: "Our ideal solution was to form a confederation. Forget about the word confederation. Two sovereign states. Now they are telling us that two sovereign states have been formed. If so, who dares to place so many thousands of Greek Cypriots within the Turkish Cypriot state? Who has the authority to do that? How can they do this? Either an agreement is concluded on the basis of two states or it is not. If this issue is based on two states, then what about a consensus in making decision. What about the protective vetoes? All these have been eliminated. However, the show is there, it is claimed that we have many rights. We will be looking for our rights like looking for a needle in a hay stack. We will try and find points that are in our favor and tell our people that the plan is wonderful."

Again referring to Annan's statement that the end of the road will be reached on 10 March, Alkan asks Denktas whether this is what he wants and whether either he or Ankara will issue a declaration. In response, Denktas says: "We will discuss these issues with our people and with our parliament. We will discuss them with Ankara. For one thing, we cannot reach the end of the road. The end of the road can only be reached with regard to these negotiations. This is not the end of the `TRNC/. How many times did we reach the end of the road in the past? How many times did we come to the end of a negotiation process? Did we reach the end? The negotiations resumed under renewed conditions. They resumed with improved conditions for us. Now they are saying that the conditions will be worsened because the Greek Cypriots will be acceding to the EU. I, however, am repeating. Does the EU want the entire island? Then they have to understand why we cannot accede. If the Turkish press and the Turkish diplomats try to explain this view, if they adopt a stand in favor of the Turkish Cypriots, then naturally we will have a better chance. We will continue our contacts with the EU. As a matter of fact, we are waiting for an opportunity to continue these contacts. We, as a future EU candidate, as a candidate together with Turkey, will seek their help to raise our economy to the Greek Cypriot level. They might agree or disagree. I believed that in time they will help."

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader says he will withdraw if the Turkish Cypriots accept the Annan plan

Pointing out that the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was in a difficulty in order not to return from Cyprus empty-handed, and that to this end they were invited to the Hague even if their response is ``no`` regarding a referendum. Denktas said there would be no meaning in going to the Hague when their response was ``no``.

When Denktas was reminded about the statement by former President Glafcos Clerides, who handed over his mission to Tasos Papadopoulos the same day, who said that ``Denktas would be in a position to resign until March 15,`` Denktas said: ``As he knows that I will reject the plan, and he thinks that my people would accept the plan, he says that. In such a case, I am telling you this, I have to withdraw. If the Turkish Cypriots will burn themselves despite my warnings, and if they will cry out three-five years later, saying why I didn`t warn them, I can`t continue my work. I can`t stay in charge in such a case. This means that the nation gave its own decision and put forward its own will. Such a decision means the political suicide of the Turkish Cypriots, as a British writer also stressed.``

Denktas remarked that he thought that the people would not say ``yes`` to the plan if a referendum was to be held on a balanced way. Denktas commented that as it was known he would not sign the plan, efforts are made to by-pass him with a referendum. ``Is Turkey also wanted to be by-passed?`` asked a journalist to Denktas who said that ``they think that if a referendum is held and if the plan is accepted, Turkey will be in a position to sign it saying that it will give up Cyprus.``

Upon a question about his expectations from Turkey, Denktas said that ``they walked on the same path with Turkey to date, and that there was no problem in that today.`` Denktas stressed that he was always supported by Turkey.

[03] Rauf Denktas continues to propagate against the Annan Plan. He behaves as if the Greek Cypriots have no rights just because they constitute the vast majority for millenniums on this island

Following are Mr Denktas/ statement and his replies to questions: "Annan asked Papadopoulos whether he would go to the Hague. Papadopoulos replied by saying that the Greek Cypriot National Council decided in favor of his going to the Hague. The Secretary-General congratulated him. Papadopoulos then explained that there were points that needed to be changed in the plan and that he would keep up his contacts regarding those points and that he would convey to Annan his `yes/ or `no/. The Secretary-General again congratulated him on his constructive approach, and thanked him.

Annan asked me what my decision was. I told Annan I was surprised that he had congratulated Papadopoulos, because he had asked us yesterday to try to ask our people whether they say `yes/ or `no/. I told Annan: What Papadopoulos said is the same I would tell you. I am also carrying out my contacts. I had a meeting with the `Council of Ministers/ yesterday. I shall go to the parliament. I have started a series of contacts, but you are aware that we view the plan as something that uproots the Turkish Cypriots and locks them into houses under the name of rehabilitation, does not give the Turkish Cypriots an opportunity for rehabilitation, stops Turkey's guarantee from being an effective and practical guarantee, removes our veto and other protective rights in the administrative system, gives us certain rights with a few votes within the majority, and brings 80,000 Greek Cypriots to live among us. We are of the opinion that our people will not accept this plan. Why should I then come to the Hague to say `no/? Papadopoulos too tells you the same thing, but says he would go to the Hague even though he might say "no".

I asked why Papadopoulos would go if he is going to say "no" and whether he could not convey the same message through Alvaro de Soto. Papadopoulos said that he would go in order to explain why he would say "no".

The Secretary-General was in a difficult position for fear that he would leave empty-handed. Addressing Annan, I said: If you tell us we can come, even if we will be saying "no", I shall come too. I shall be coming there to say "no" if we are not be able to change anything, but shall come to say "yes" if we are able make changes. Papadopoulos too said the same thing to you. Do you agree that we come there even to say "no", although it will be a useless visit?

Annan responded: It would be good if you come, because you will be explaining the reasons to us and this will be widely heard in the world. At this, I asked to see the written statement he would be making so that I would not make any statement contrary to what he might be saying. The statement was put on paper and brought out. We approved the written text and he read it to the news media."

Question: Will the representatives of Turkey and Greece go to the Hague too?

Answer: They should, because their signatures are needed too.

Question: We are told that there is a provision that says Turkey and Greece would also have to respect the results of a possible referendum.

Answer: Yes. Turkey's signature would imply that Turkey would part with its rights over Cyprus, maybe by about 90-95 percent. It would then be a product of the imagination to argue that Turkey would have rights, powers, etc. equal to those of Greece.

Question: Would this then be the first serious test for the JDP [Justice and Development Party] government on the Cyprus issue?

Answer: I would not make such a definitive statement. The Turkish Government should now sit down to decide. I hope it will. I have to go to Ankara to consult and discuss, and to exchange views, because if Turkey is to sign this, it will then mean that Turkey accepts this plan. It is said that in its propaganda directed at the Greek Cypriots, the UN wing tells them that Turkey has accepted the plan. They [Greek Cypriots] asked me whether Turkey has accepted this plan. I have not heard anything like this from Turkey. Turkey dwells on the same shortcomings and wrongs that I dwell on, and demands that these be changed. This is what I told them. That is the scenario we are facing.

Question: Bearing in mind that only minor changes may take place, this means that the plan will not be changed by 10 March.

Answer: That the plan cannot change is one thing. The other thing is that, for this plan to be completed, there are so many things to be done that neither party can possible complete them. It is not possible even until 30 March.

Question: Annan is demanding, however, that this be completed by the 25th.

Answer: Yes, he has put a program before us setting dates for this or that. If the plan's main points that are destructive and annihilating to the Turkish Cypriots cannot be changed, what is the purpose of dealing with the details?

Question: Well, if Ankara tells you to go ahead with the public referendum in light of the world agreement, what would you do? What would you do if the result of the referendum proves to be "yes"?

Answer: I do not what to reply to this question because I do not suppose such a thing would happen. If this plan is submitted to the people and is explained well, and if the people are not deceived by some through mere arguments that the plan is just good, and they are not deceived with the EU lollipop, the people will maintain their vigil. Delegations visiting me from all over the island ask me not to put any Greek Cypriots among them, not to make them refugees again, and not to dilute Turkey's guarantee. It is important we know our people well. I know them, and I trust them. There is no meaning in submitting to them an impossible plan just because I trust them.

Question: Following your contacts in Ankara, could a situation be created that might make your visit to the Hague unnecessary?

Answer: Yes, of course. As a matter of fact, I repeat that it would be meaningless to go to the Hague just to say "no". I presume that the Secretary-General has agreed to this just to claim that he has achieved something.

Question: The timetable set in the plan provides for the appointment until 10 March of the Supreme Court President, the Central Bank Provisional Governor, and others.

Answer: This is not possible, because we have been provided with the lists of several foreign judges. We do not know these judges. Shall we have a draw to select three from among them? Their pasts should be investigated. Who is going to investigate? Turkey should investigate and advise us on the names since we do not have representatives everywhere. This cannot happen in three days or 10 days. We are faced with something meaningless. We are forced to act hastily. The devil gets involved in anything done in haste! That is why we should not get the devil involved in this affair because there is a sufficient number of devils around anyway.

Question: It has been said that the end of the road will be reached. According to the Secretary-General, the referendum issue will signal the end of the road.

Answer: It will be the end of the talks. However, we have had the end of the road several times, but new talks started again under new conditions. It is not necessary to argue that the end of the road will be a tragedy. All we have to do is to turn our attention to our internal problem. Some argue that I broke away from the people, but those who chained me to the conference table and the talks being held three times a week for the past year cannot claim that I broke away from the people. My door is open to the people; everyone can come and see me whenever he wants. It is a fact that I have not been able to see my people for one year and particularly during the three months that I was ill. I did not break away from the people, though. Therefore, the end of the road should be used to prepare, together with Turkey and the support of the people, a better Cyprus for the people. I talked to some foreigners...

Question: What about Weston...

Answer:...who attended yesterday's mass meeting in Nicosia. They [foreigners] said it was a natural, economic demonstration by a number of people. I responded by saying that an equal number of other people tell us: Do not ever sign; please protect us; do not make us refugees again; and do not put the Greek Cypriots among us, otherwise it will be a tragedy. Some people among the Greek Cypriots speak likewise. Wise Greek Cypriots also speak about a tragedy if we come together immediately.

Question: Clerides is quoted as telling the Greek Cypriot National Council that you will reach the point of resigning by 15 March. How and why did Clerides say that?

Answer: Knowing that I would reject the plan, he must have assumed that the people would accept the plan and that, as a result of my rejection, I would withdraw in the face of such a conflict. I am indeed saying this myself, because if the people are to throw themselves deep into the well despite all my warnings, and if they are going to cry out after three to five years demanding an explanation why we did not warn them, there would be no reason for me to stay and give advice. This would mean that the people have made their own decision. As a British writer said, acceptance of this plan amounts to suicide for the Turkish Cypriots. He says it would be political suicide.

Question: Would you decide in this way in case of a public referendum?

Answer: I assume that the people would not say "yes" to this plan, because the plan would displace 120,000 people. No one is aware of this. They are being told they would be rehabilitated. Thank God, they have included this aspect in the plan. They will provide a two-member family a 50-square-meter house, a three-member family a 75-square-meter house, and a four-member family a 100-square-meter house. Reference is made to relocation.

Quesiton: Did they come up with resources?

Answer: It is said that the Americans will find financing. The EU is said to be planning to establish a fund and ask for financing. This is not only a matter of money. If these people are farmers, citrus growers, grapevine owners, and animal husbandry men, they have to be rehabilitated and provided with the same possibilities. Their survival should also be ensured until they again become productive. No such program exists or has been anticipated. When we first asked Alvaro de Soto where financing would come from, he looked at Clerides and said he thought financing would come from the Greek Cypriot side. Clerides immediately reacted, telling Alvaro de Soto that the Greek Cypriot side would not provide such financing. Clerides also said the Greek Cypriot side would contribute some money to a fund.

Thomas Weston was again here when I started complaining. Realizing the tragic aspect of the problem and the fact that the plan could collapse just because of this, Weston said: We can come up with, we can give the money. He explained the problem to Verheugen at the EU, who immediately talked about setting up a fund. This is a serious problem, because you are uprooting almost 50 percent of the people, but you do not discuss this with the representatives, the government, and the legislature of those people. You are still able to claim that you have made a most balanced plan. Where is the balance? On the Greek Cypriot side, a component state is being established, made up of 100 percent Greek Cypriots, and on the Turkish Cypriot side, a mixed component state is being established with some 20 to 25 percent Greek Cypriots coming in. Where is the balance here?

Question: At this point, is the Secretary-General trying to bypass you?

Answer: Yes, definitely he is trying to bypass us. He assumes that the result of the referendum will be "yes". As such, the plan is to bypass Denktas.

Question: In that case, are they also trying to bypass Turkey?

Answer: They think that Turkey will feel compelled to sign, This would imply, I give up Cyprus, once the result of the referendum is "yes".

Question: You will be starting to negotiate with Papadopoulos now that he is officially becoming President. What is the difference between Clerides and Papadopoulos? What are your first impressions?

Answer: You cannot feel it immediately. When someone comes to the meeting, he speaks in such a way as to impress the other side as being positive, mature, and acceptable.

Question: What are your expectations of Turkey?

Answer: We have walked this course together with Turkey until now. For this reason, I do not see any difficulty.

Question: Do you expect any decision, any support?

Answer: We have had support always. We do not expect anything negative.

Question: Do you think important decisions have to be made at the point that has been reached?

Answer: Definitely yes. It is not enough anymore to say: Let us continue to talk and see what will happen. It is high time we came up with something. We have to state what we accept and what we do not accept, so that everyone may know it. The people here should not continue to suffer, but should be rewarded. Their state and their sovereignty is their reward. They should not break away from their motherland. If they are to join the EU, they should do so having ensured all this. They should stand on their own two feet with honour. They should not be patched up to the Greek Cypriots.

[04] Denktas: "The time for going to referendum has not come yet. .The UN document is not at a situation to be submitted to referendum on 30 March"

Mr Denktas wished the "pseudogovernment" would not hurry in taking the decision regarding the above - mentioned issue. Mr Denktas claimed that the Turkish Cypriots do not know the plan, which is "very complicated". "The plan", he added, "is not in a form of being submitted to a referendum on 30 March".

[05] The Turkish National Security Council discussed Iraq and Cyprus

"The NSC Secretariat General announces: The NSC held its monthly routine meeting on 28 February 2003. The results reached at the end of the negotiations conducted with the United States in connection with a possible US military intervention against Iraq were assessed during the meeting. On the Cyprus question, the latest proposals of the UN Secretary-General were discussed. The general nationwide security and law and order situation was also reviewed at the meeting."

[06] The Foreign Minister of Turkey stresses that the Turkish policy on Cyprus has not changed

Responding to a question motion of RPP deputy Nezir Buyukcengiz, Yakis clarified the statements of Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc who said that there could be change in Turkey`s Cyprus policy. Yakis alleged that Turkey always supported a just and permanent solution in Cyprus.

Yakis said that there was no change in the target of formation of a new partnership in Cyprus which will maintain the existing peaceful atmosphere in Cyprus, the effective and active guarantee of Turkey in Cyprus, the balance between Turkey and Greece, which will accept the sovereign equality of both sides and which will be based on compromise.

Yakis said that Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc said in the news briefing on January 8, 2003 that the attitude and policies pursued in Cyprus were carried out in consultation and cooperation with Rauf Denktas. ``The Spokesman said that the Turkish side brought onto the agenda our demand for changes that need to be made in the Annan plan within the scope of our main policy and that these were regulations that could be in question in every active negotiation process,`` he said.

Yakis also said that there was no development that could be described as ``change of policy`` in the Cyprus issue apart from that, adding that Turkey supported the negotiation process that was carried out for finding a permanent solution in Cyprus and the efforts of Denktas. Yakis said that this issue was confirmed once again during the press conference held on January 15, 2003, adding: ``The statements of the Spokesman constitute the clear determination that pursues our attitude in the Cyprus negotiation process.``

[07] CUMHURIYET cites the changes in the new peace plan in favour of the Turkish Cypriots

The CUMHURIYET newspaper obtained the details of the third plan presented yesterday [Thursday, 27 February] by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides. According to the information obtained from the Turkish Cypriot authorities, the new plan will also be discussed in the NSC [National Security Council] meeting today. The important elements of the plan are as follows:

- In the plan, the "United Cyprus Republic" is stated to be composed of "constituent states", that is, founding states. The Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot states were referred to as "component states" in the previous plans.

- The new plan envisages the acceptance of the laws and agreements made by the Turkish Cypriot side until the present. This is also interpreted to be an arrangement in favor of the Turkish Cypriot side.

- The new map in the Annan Plan is composed of six parts. The territories of approximately 28.2 percent of the total of these parts are left to the Turkish Cypriot side, but the percentage of the properties that the Greek Cypriots will obtain from the Turkish Cypriot side is included within this figure.

- A complex system is envisaged on the subject of properties. For example, previously, Turks who settled in the north and owned property with an equal value in the south, would keep as their own the Greek Cypriot houses in which they settled. If they built on a plot and they made investments up to 50 percent, then that property will be left to the present owner. It is envisaged that the final arrangements on this subject will be determined with negotiations between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides.

- Permission is being given for 45 thousand immigrants from Turkey who settled on Cyprus to stay on the island.

- Turkey's guarantorship right is being preserved.

- In contrast to the previous plan, the Karpass region is being transferred to the Turkish Cypriot side. It is being emphasized, however, that this will be an autonomous region. - Another element, which was changed in the plan in favor of the Turkish Cypriot side is the number of Greek Cypriots who will settle in the Turkish Cypriot constituent state from the Greek Cypriot side. This ratio, which was determined to be 28 percent previously, has been reduced to 21 percent in the new plan.

- The Greek Cypriots who will settle on the Turkish Cypriot side, in contrast to the previous plan, will only be able to vote in local elections.

[08] Eroglu calls on the inhabitants of the occupied areas to vote against the plan in a possible referendum

Addressing a meeting at occupied Karpass peninsula, Mr Eroglu said: "..In case of a referendum you will define your destiny yourselves. Do you want to emigrate from this land or do you want to stay? Vote in the referendum having in mind these realities. Demand to be the owners of your places, your territory.".

[09] Serdar Denktas "officially" becomes so-called "deputy prime minister" of the puppet regime

[10] The pseudo-assembly is to discuss tomorrow the issue of the 30 March referendum

The paper writes that in case the decision is positive, then the issue of who has the right to vote should be decided as well. According to the paper if as basis of the voters are taken those who voted during the recent so-called "municipal elections" and if we add to this number those who have since acquired afterwards the so-called "citizenship" of the puppet regime, then "having a positive result at the referendum will not be easy".

[11] Rally in favour of "sovereignty and existence" will take place in occupied Nicosia

According to a statement made by Suha Turkoz, the general secretary of the NCS, the rally is organized as a result of the latest crucial developments in the Cyprus problem. Stressing that "the silent majority decided to take action", Mr Turkoz said that the rally is organized in order to show support to the pseudostate/s sovereignty, to show support for two states in Cyprus and political equality and in order to stress that Turkey is the only country that has the right of intervention in the island.

[12] Turkish Cypriots continue to mobilize in favor of solution and EU accession

According to the paper, among the actions planned is to call a general strike.

In addition, in the framework of this decision, a demonstration took place on Friday in front of the so-called assembly of the pseudostate. As KIBRIS (01.03.03) reports 500 persons gathered in front of the so-called assembly's building and demanded from the so-called members of the parliament to decide in favor of a referendum on the 30th of March.

[13] The so-called Minister of Labour, Social Security, Youth and Sports of the pseudostate is visiting Malaysia after invitation

Mr Kasif went to Malaysia at the invitation of the Malaysian King and conveyed an invitation to the King from the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, to visit the puppet regime.

According to the paper, the pseudominister will hold various contacts in Malaysia regarding issues of sports and youth. Mr Kasif will return to the pseudostate either on the 5th or the 7th of March.

[14] Twenty six so-called "Deputies" say "yes" and eighteen say "no" to the Annan plan

YENI DUZEN reports that it decided to ask the opinion of the 48 "deputies" about this important issue ( Tr. Note: the seats of the "Parliament" are 50 but two of them are empty).

According to the paper the results were the following:

                           Yes   No  No answer
National Unity Party        6    11     3
Democratic Party            7     5     1
Republican Turkish Party    5     -     -
Communal Liberation Party   5     -     -
Progressive Renewal Party   2     1     -
Independent                 1     1     -
                         ----- ----- -----
                           26    18     4

[15] The Turkish Grand National Assembly rejected the motion on deploying US troops in Turkey

Though the motion achieved a slender approval, with 264 deputies voting in favour to 250 against, with another 19 casting invalid ballots, under the constitution a clear majority of those present in the house was required. With 535 deputies present for the debate, the absolute majority needed by the JDP was 268.

After more than an hour after the votes were cast, and having initially announcing that the motion had been carried, the speaker of the parliament, Bulent Ar?nc, declared that the motion had failed to be passed.

It is believed that as many as 90 of the JDP's 361 parliamentary deputies either abstained, voted with the opposition or failed to attend the session.

Having stumbled at the final hurdle, the JDP has indicated that it may not attempt to submit the motion a second time, meaning that Turkey will not be involved in any conflict against Iraq but also will miss out on more than $15 billion in promised aid from the US. It will also lose some of the strong support it has enjoyed from Washington in the past.

Facing a probable deadlock in its hopes to use Turkey as a base for operations against Iraq in the event of war, US officials have already announced that they are considering other options for the deployment of troops to bring pressure to bear against the north of Iraq.

With the failure to pass the motion, the parliament also refused to authorise the sending of Turkish troops abroad, meaning that the proposed deployment of up to 55,000 members of the Turkish armed forces in Northern Iraq should war break out was also rejected.

In anticipation of a favourable vote, the US has already upgraded a number of Turkish ports and military facilities and has begun unloading vehicles and equipment at the southern Turkish port of Iskenderun. More than 40 cargo ships chartered by the US are lying close to or are approaching the Turkish coast to discharge their military cargoes.

Where their new destination will be, or whether the JDP will consider trying to force the motion through the parliament a second time is still somewhat unclear.

/SK

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