February 5, 2003	Wednesday	Zul Hijjah 3,1423

ISTANBUL: Turkey is speeding up its war preparations for fear that sitting out a US-led military strike against Iraq may prove more costly than active involvement.

Turkey’s motives are far different from those of the United States. The overwhelming fear is that the presence of a strong Kurdish entity in northern Iraq could embolden Turkey’s own Kurds in demanding a separate status. Disarming Iraq or a regime change is secondary, even though Turkish cities are within striking range of Iraq.

Turkey is considered an indispensable gateway in any military strike against Iraq because an assault from Turkey could buttress an attack from other sides. US and British aircraft already use the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey to enforce the no-fly zone in northern Iraq.

Now additional troops have been dispatched to the border with Iraq, according to local reports. Officials are drafting emergency plans. Thousands of additional security personnel are being assigned to protect potential Iraqi targets.

US military officials have already inspected land, air and sea bases as the Bush Administration pushes for an early decision to allow its troops to operate from Turkish soil. But over the weekend the National Security Council decided to seek parliamentary approval before granting the US request, or allowing Turkish troops to be deployed abroad.

The move followed evidence of overwhelming anti-war sentiment. Opinion polls show about 80 per cent of people opposed to war. Anti-war demonstrations are held daily.

Turkey’s infant government, in power only three months after an overwhelming mandate to the Justice and Development Party (AKP), is engaged in a series of delicate balancing acts.

With its strong religious roots, the party has more affinity with the Muslim world than any of its predecessors. But Turkey, the only Muslim member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) has also had to ask the alliance for protection in case of an Iraqi attack. And it needs US goodwill for loans for its ailing economy.

Turkish leaders have said the economy could not withstand another blow, after claiming that it lost as much as $100 billion through the Gulf War. But the Turkish demand for compensation in the event of war appears on its way to a resolution.

Turkey is reported to have asked for $20 billion, while the US offered $4.5 billion. After tough talks with US representatives, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul announced that the two had agreed a ‘methodology’ that would make compensation proportionate to economic loss.

US negotiators also suggested that the Turkish economy stands to gain from a democratic Iraq through expanded trade between the two neighbours.

A leading commentator says the public could accept Turkish participation in a war if it is seen to be in national interest. “We do not want war,” says Ilnur Cevik, editor-in-chief of the Turkish Daily News. “But when something becomes inevitable we have to tend to our own interests and confront the challenges with courage instead of hiding in a corner and praying that it will all be over soon.”

Turkey must prepare for the worst, Gul announced on Sunday. “Peace efforts will continue, but we also have to think of our national interests,” he said.—Dawn/The InterPress News Service.