Pentagon Spokesman's Regular Briefing, Oct. 10

BRIEFER: ADM. CRAIG QUIGLEY, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN
PENTAGON BRIEFING ROOM,
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2000 -- 2:05 P.M. EDT


Q: Craig, sticking to the region; Turkey has become the ninth country,
I believe, to send a relief flight into Baghdad. What's the Pentagon
reaction to that?


Quigley: Well, from our perspective of being cognizant of flight
activity in operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch, we're
certainly very much aware of the flight activity that's going on. The
Turkish flight, for instance, flew through the Northern Watch airspace
to go straight south from Turkey into Iraq. We're very much aware of
its flight path and watched it as it proceeded.


But on the diplomatic side, it's just not an issue that we have the
lead on, Jamie. On the sanctions flights, I would refer you to the
State Department on that.


Q: Turkey is a NATO ally. Is the Pentagon not disappointed that it is
making a point of giving aid and comfort to Baghdad at a time when the
United States --


Quigley: Well, it's my understanding on this one that there was a
notification made to the U.N. Sanctions Committee, and with the
notification and permission, you know, from the Sanctions Committee of
the U.N., that those are not indeed violations.


Q: I'm not suggesting that there was a violation. I'm just suggesting
that Turkey has added itself to the growing list of countries that
seems to be creating a momentum to lift the air embargo which the
United States says it supports. At the same time, Turkey is a member
of the same NATO alliance and in fact is providing basing for U.S.
planes patrolling the no-fly zone. Isn't there somewhat of an
inconsistency there?


Quigley: I think there was a procedure, a process set up by the
Sanctions Committee for humanitarian flights into Iraq. And I don't
know if you can ask for more than to follow the procedures that have
been set up by the U.N. Sanctions Committee in order to fly those
humanitarian flights. They appear to be in compliance with the
Sanctions Committee guidelines.

....

Q: Back to Turkey for a second. Has there been any changes in the
operations out of Incirlik for Operation Northern Watch, or any
communication from Turkey that they would like to place limitations on
those operations?


Quigley: No, not yet, Chris.

....

Q: This is a quick follow-up. Chris asked you about whether Turkey had
placed any restrictions on operations in the northern no-fly zone, and
you said, "Not yet." What did you mean by that?


Quigley: It is indeed their airspace and it's their facilities, and
things of that sort. I mean, we respect that greatly, and we value
their contribution, but --


Q: Well, when you said "Not yet," is there any reason to expect that
they're considering any response?


Quigley: I mean, if that was the impression I left you with, that was
wrong on my part. I don't know of anything pending or --


Q: What about the meeting of the Turkish Parliament? They were talking
about taking, in retaliation for --


Quigley: For the Armenian resolution?



Q: Yeah.



Quigley: Well, that's still a work in progress. I don't know how to
predict the outcome of that, Pam. I don't know.


Q: The resolution, you mean?



Quigley: Yes. Yeah, and the reaction --