DATE=11/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241304
TITLE=COHEN / IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT= VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN DENIES HE HAS SOUGHT 
USE OF TURKISH BASES FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ.  
BUT AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS MR. COHEN HINTED THAT IF THE 
UNITED STATES DECIDED TO TAKE MILITARY AGAINST IRAQ, IT WOULD 
SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM TURKEY.

TEXT:  SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER MEETING WITH TURKISH DEFENSE 
MINISTER ISMET SEZGIN  (FRIDAY, IN ANKARA),  MR. COHEN SAID THAT 
IF THE UNITED STATES SHOULD TAKE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, IT
WOULD ASK FOR WHAT HE TERMED THE HELP OF ITS ALLIES.

SECRETARY COHEN WAS RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER HE HAD 
ASKED THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO USE A NATO AIRBASE IN SOUTHERN 
TURKEY FOR POSSIBLE AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ.  MR COHEN SAID  NO 
SPECIFIC REQUESTS HAD BEEN MADE DURING TALKS WITH TURKISH 
PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL, DEFENSE MINISTER ISMET SEZGIN, AND 
THE CHIEF OF TURKEY'S GENERAL STAFF, HUSEYIN KIVRIKOGLU.

MR. COHEN'S VISIT TO ANKARA IS PART OF HIS TOUR OF THE MIDDLE 
EAST TO SEEK SUPPORT FOR POSSIBLE AIRSTRIKES AGAINST IRAQ FOR ITS
REFUSAL TO COOPERATE WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS.

MR. COHEN TERMED HIS VISIT TO SIX ARAB GULF STATES AND TO EGYPT 
AND JORDAN A SUCCESS.  HE SAID TURKISH OFFICIALS ALSO AGREED WITH
THE UNITED STATES THAT IRAQ SHOULD FULLY COMPLY WITH U-N SECURITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS TO IMMEDIATELY RESUME WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.

TURKEY'S INCIRLIK AIRBASE IN ADANA WAS USED DURING THE PERSIAN 
GULF WAR TO MOUNT AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ.  THE NATO BASE IS NOW
HOME TO A U-S-LED ALLIED AIR CONTINGENT WHICH MONITORS A NO-FLY 
ZONE OVER KURDISH CONTROLLED NORTHERN IRAQ.

HOWEVER, TURKISH OFFICIALS ARE OPENLY OPPOSED TO ALLOWING 
INCIRLIK TO BE USED FOR FURTHER MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ.  
IF ANYTHING, TURKEY IS IN FAVOR OF NORMALIZING TIES WITH IRAQ AND
LAST MONTH ANNOUNCED IT WAS APPOINTING AN AMBASSADOR TO BAGHDAD 
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IRAQ'S INVASION OF KUWAIT IN AUGUST OF 
1990.

TURKEY AND THE UNITED STATES REMAIN AT ODDS OVER IRAQ POLICY, 
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF U-S SUPPORT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 
KURDISH REGIONAL GOVERNMENT IN NORTHERN IRAQ.  TURKEY FEARS THAT 
SUCCESSFUL KURDISH SELF-RULE IN NORTHERN IRAQ WOULD ENCOURAGE 
SIMILAR ASPIRATIONS AMONG ITS OWN ESTIMATED 12-MILLION KURDS. 

THE UNITED STATES DENIES IT WANTS AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE 
AND SAYS ITS SUPPORT FOR THE IRAQI KURDS IS PART OF ITS BROADER 
STRATEGY OF KEEPING UP BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC PRESSURE 
ON SADDAM HUSSEIN.

TURKEY ALSO MAINTAINS THAT AMONG ALL THE GULF WAR ALLIES IT HAS 
SUFFERED THE MOST AS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUING ECONOMIC BLOCKADE
OVER BAGHDAD. IRAQ USED TO BE TURKEY'S SECOND LARGEST TRADING 
PARTNER BEFORE THE GULF WAR. TURKEY SAYS IT HAS LOST OVER 30 
BILLION DOLLARS AS A RESULT OF THE LOSS OF TRADE WITH IRAQ.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/JWH

06-Nov-98 10:54 AM EST (1554 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.