Turkish foreign minister says Turkey examining U.S.-Iraq military pact

Hurriyet daily said this would be a serious obstacle ahead of cross-border air operations of Turkish warplanes against the PKK terrorist organization since the Baghdad administration is heavily influenced by Kurds.Â

 

According to the agreement between Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President George W. Bush in Nov. 5, 2007, the U.S. had allowed Turkey to carry air operations against PKK positions in northern Iraq. The United States currently controls Iraqi air space.

 

The two leaders also agreed on intelligence sharing. The U.S. has been providing intelligence on PKK movements in northern Iraq, helping Turkish air forces to strike their targets.

 

An official from the Turkish Foreign Ministry told Hurriyet daily the agreement with the U.S. was crucial to avoid the risk of Turkish warplanes encountering American jets.

 

"However it is important to remember that Iraq does not have a strong air force. In that case, if an operation, which is deemed as crucial for Turkey is needed, then Turkey can present fait accompli," the official added.

 

The official also underlined that the pact included an article saying "Iraqi territory cannot be used for attacks against neighboring countries," however it is unclear how strongly this would be enforced.

 

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will send a representative to Ankara on Wednesday to inform about the security agreement between Iraq and the U.S., and also to learn the demands of Turkey.

 

According to the pact, U.S. combat forces would withdraw from Iraqi cities by next June and from the country by the end of 2011.

 

The Iraqis also insisted on a pledge that American forces would not use Iraqi territory to attack another country. Many observers believe that has largely been taken as a reference to an invasion of Iran.