US embassy cable - 02ANKARA9129

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 009129 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/NGA AND EUR/SE, LONDON FOR GOLDRICH, PARIS FOR 
O'FRIEL 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2012 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, PTER, TU, IZ, Iraq 
SUBJECT: IRAQ: TURKISH PARLIAMENT RENEWS OPERATION NORTHERN 
WATCH 
 
REF: ANKARA 4488 
 
 
(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch for reasons 1.5, b/d. 
 
 
1. (U) On December 25, the Turkish Parliament approved by a 
show of hands the Prime Ministry's request to extend the 
mandate of Operation Northern Watch for six more months as of 
December 31, 2002. 
 
 
2. (U) FM Yakis spoke on behalf of the GOT, explaining that 
the flights conducted by ONW were within the framework of 
principles and rules set by Turkey and that Turkey would 
closely follow the activities of the operation.  He noted 
that ONW was necessary because the "conditions that would 
eliminate the threat in the region have not been realized." 
Furthermore, ONW prevented influxes of refugees from Iraq. 
Yakis argued that the continuation of ONW was in Turkey's 
national interest because tension and uncertainty continue in 
northern Iraq.  He noted that all UN members are committed to 
the territorial integrity of Iraq, but if Iraq is found to 
possess WMD or misinforms the international community about 
its weapons, it would cause the US to intervene militarily. 
Yakis added that such an operation should be based on 
international law.  Repeating Turkey's redlines on Iraq, he 
said the presence of PKK-KADEK in northern Iraq had been a 
problem for Turkey, and ONW has assisted Turkey in its fight 
against terrorism.  Yakis reiterated Turkey's desire for 
Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, and Assyrians to live in freedom and 
security in Iraq, emphasizing that the Turkmen should have 
equal status with other ethnic groups, and traditional 
Turkmen regions should be protected. 
 
 
3.  (U) MP Necati Cetinkaya, a former State of Emergency 
Regional Governor, spoke on behalf of the ruling AK Party. 
He outlined the history of ONW since 1991, briefing on its 
predecessor "Operation Provide Comfort" and noting that ONW 
is a limited force with 63 aircraft and helicopters. 
Cetinkaya criticized NATO Allies for not supporting Turkey 
when 500,000 refugees crossed into Turkey in 1991.  Now there 
was the possibility of another operation against Iraq, and he 
urged Baghdad to comply with the UN resolutions.  He stressed 
that the extension of ONW would be useful in facilitating the 
government's goal of establishing authority in northern Iraq. 
 
 
4.  (U) Sukru Elekdag, a former ambassador to Washington, 
spoke on behalf of the opposition CHP.  He criticized the 
late President Ozal for allowing 500,000 refugees, some of 
whom were armed PKK terrorists, into Turkey in 1991.  He 
noted that his party had always opposed "Operation Provide 
Comfort" and "Operation Northern Watch" but said "in a period 
during which an operation against Iraq is being discussed, 
with the purpose of having freedom of movement in the region, 
it would be reasonable to extend the mandate of ONW." 
 
 
5.  (C) Comment: The extension of ONW's mandate should have 
been, and was, relatively simple for the AK Party to get 
approved, given that it holds almost two-thirds of the seats 
in parliament.  As it happened, even the opposition CHP did 
not use the opportunity to take a stand opposed to that of 
the GOT at a time when public anxiety about US intentions in 
Iraq persists.  This support for ONW may reflect a continuing 
concern about Iraqi refugees flooding into Turkey.  The 
Parliament also knows that this extension is only a 
placeholder -- until they debate the larger issue of Turkish 
support for a possible US-led operation against Iraq. (Note: 
Embassy notes that the actual number of US and UK aircraft 
and helicopters currently allocated to ONW is 53, vice 63 as 
claimed by Cetinkaya.) 
PEARSON