10.02.2005, 01:38
U.S. Asks to Use Turkish Base as Hub for Flights, Turkey Says
The U.S. requested permission to use an airbase in southern Turkey as a military ``transportation hub'' in the region, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
The Incirlik base, near the southern city of Adana, may be used for the shipment of supplies to U.S. forces in countries including Iraq and Afghanistan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said without giving details on the types of equipment and provisions the government will allow to go through the base.
``The U.S. has technical and logistical requirements and their request to use Incirlik is being evaluated,'' Tan told a news conference in the capital, Ankara.
U.S. and Turkish officials have vowed to repair the countries' relations, which were strained by Turkey's criticism of U.S. policies in Iraq. The Turkish parliament refused to allow U.S. forces to use Turkey as a springboard for the invasion of its southern neighbor in March 2003. Turkey is the only member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization with a majority-Muslim population. Iraq also is predominantly Muslim.
Large civilian aircraft as well as U.S. military transport planes may be allowed to land at Incirlik, Tan said. It wasn't immediately clear whether the government would first request parliament's permission, he said.
The U.S. is requesting the help of Turkey and other allies to move forces rapidly anywhere in the world at short notice, Douglas Feith, the undersecretary of defense for policy, said during a visit to Ankara on Jan. 31.
President George W. Bush would like to shift 50 F-16 fighter jets based in Germany to Incirlik, Turkey's daily Hurriyet newspaper reported on Aug. 18, citing unidentified U.S. officials in Washington. U.S. attack aircraft wouldn't be allowed to use the base, Tan said.
Troop Rotations
British and U.S. fighter jets used the base to patrol a ``no- fly'' zone over northern Iraq before the invasion that deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The U.S. has also used Incirlik to rotate its troops in and out of Iraq and for humanitarian missions.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Feb. 5 spoke of the ``many times that Turkey has supported America and America Turkey'' and how relations had a bright future after the two countries ``stood together through the Cold War as members of NATO.''
The U.S. since 1999 has helped Turkey secure more than $30 billion in loans from the International Monetary Fund. The U.S. has also lobbied members of the European Union to start accession talks with Turkey.
NATO forces based in Istanbul this month will take over command of international peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan for six months.
quelle:http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aQfn_lrolC0k&refer=europe
The U.S. requested permission to use an airbase in southern Turkey as a military ``transportation hub'' in the region, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
The Incirlik base, near the southern city of Adana, may be used for the shipment of supplies to U.S. forces in countries including Iraq and Afghanistan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said without giving details on the types of equipment and provisions the government will allow to go through the base.
``The U.S. has technical and logistical requirements and their request to use Incirlik is being evaluated,'' Tan told a news conference in the capital, Ankara.
U.S. and Turkish officials have vowed to repair the countries' relations, which were strained by Turkey's criticism of U.S. policies in Iraq. The Turkish parliament refused to allow U.S. forces to use Turkey as a springboard for the invasion of its southern neighbor in March 2003. Turkey is the only member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization with a majority-Muslim population. Iraq also is predominantly Muslim.
Large civilian aircraft as well as U.S. military transport planes may be allowed to land at Incirlik, Tan said. It wasn't immediately clear whether the government would first request parliament's permission, he said.
The U.S. is requesting the help of Turkey and other allies to move forces rapidly anywhere in the world at short notice, Douglas Feith, the undersecretary of defense for policy, said during a visit to Ankara on Jan. 31.
President George W. Bush would like to shift 50 F-16 fighter jets based in Germany to Incirlik, Turkey's daily Hurriyet newspaper reported on Aug. 18, citing unidentified U.S. officials in Washington. U.S. attack aircraft wouldn't be allowed to use the base, Tan said.
Troop Rotations
British and U.S. fighter jets used the base to patrol a ``no- fly'' zone over northern Iraq before the invasion that deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The U.S. has also used Incirlik to rotate its troops in and out of Iraq and for humanitarian missions.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Feb. 5 spoke of the ``many times that Turkey has supported America and America Turkey'' and how relations had a bright future after the two countries ``stood together through the Cold War as members of NATO.''
The U.S. since 1999 has helped Turkey secure more than $30 billion in loans from the International Monetary Fund. The U.S. has also lobbied members of the European Union to start accession talks with Turkey.
NATO forces based in Istanbul this month will take over command of international peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan for six months.
quelle:http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aQfn_lrolC0k&refer=europe