Turkey Mulls Re-Vote After Rejecting U.S. Troop Deployment

Turkish leaders failed on Saturday to gather enough support among ruling party lawmakers for parliament to accept U.S. troops. Parliament’s decision stunned many in Washington and jeopardized U.S. planning for a northern front against Iraq, a major part of the Bush administration’s war strategy.

Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul did not specify Monday whether his government would ask lawmakers to reconsider their decision.

“We are analyzing the situation and we will see what happens in the next few days,” Gul said in a news conference.

Conflicting comments came from other top government officials. A leading member of Turkey’s governing Justice and Development Party, Eyup Fatsa, said Sunday that a new vote was not planned for the “foreseeable future.” But Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis appeared to leave the door open for such a vote.

Asked Sunday if the proposal would be back on the agenda this week, Yakis said, “The process [of evaluation] will be completed, then it will come.” He did not elaborate.

Gul will be out of the country Tuesday and Wednesday for a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference, likely delaying any vote until at least Thursday.

Saturday’s vote could mean the end of a $15 billion package in grants and loans the U.S. promised to compensate Turkey for any losses incurred in war.

Turkey’s markets were counting on that money to boost the country’s ailing economy, and its stock market fell by 1,354 points or 11.6 percent in trading Monday. The Turkish lira currency traded early Monday at around 1,675,000 to the dollar from Friday’s 1,597,000 close, a five percent drop. It firmed up later in the day.

Gul tried to reassure the markets, saying Turkey would have no difficulties in repaying its large international debts even if the U.S. aid plan does not come through.

Meanwhile, Justice Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to be elected to parliament in a local by-election on March 9, allowing him to become prime minister. In forming a new cabinet, he could purge the current government of ministers strongly opposed to the motion and resubmit it to parliament.

This process could delay a new vote until March 17, the Turkish newspaper Sabah reported, allowing Turkey to see whether the U. N. Security Council approves a resolution authorizing military action to disarm Saddam Hussein before coming to its own decision.

Gul spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday, according to a statement from Gul’s office. Powell “emphasized that relations between friends Turkey and the United States were solid,” the statement said.

Ships carrying equipment and some of the 62,000 U.S. troops who would be based in Turkey are already awaiting deployment off the Turkish coast.

Besides the possible loss of U.S. funds, Ankara could also lose its sway over the future of neighboring Iraq if there is a war. That is a critical issue for the Turks, who fear a war could lead Kurds in northern Iraq to declare an independent state and in turn inspire Turkey’s own Kurdish minority.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Monday the United States would prevail in a conflict with Iraq, regardless of whether Turkey cooperates.

“Turkey is reviewing its options for what they will or will not be able to do, and we are evaluating our options and our alternatives,” Fleischer said. “No matter what course Turkey selects, if the president authorizes the use of force, no matter which route it takes, there’s no doubt it will lead to a successful military outcome.”

The defense minister in Kuwait said Monday his country would accept U.S. troops who had been intended to be deployed in Turkey. Tens of thousands of American forces are already stationed in the Persian Gulf state.