PanARMENIAN.Net

Turkish Premier Wants to Send Contingent to Lebanon
01.09.2006 17:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish government is preparing to ask
Parliament next week for broad authorization to send troops to a
peacekeeping force in Lebanon, without specifying the number of
soldiers in the motion, officials said on Thursday. Officials from the
Foreign Ministry and General Staff yesterday continued work on the
motion. A source from the Foreign Ministry stated that although the
motion was to be sent to Parliament on Thursday, it will be delayed
pending further evaluations but sources say that a delay in Tuesday’s
debate in Parliament is not expected.

The motion, which will determine the details of the mission in Lebanon
for Turkish forces, won’t include the number of troops, sources said,
underlining that the move will leave the issue flexible and give the
government the opportunity to alter the force size as it sees fit in
the future.

The sources also said that they expect the forces to be deployed in
Lebanon to number in the hundreds, not the thousands. Briefing
reporters about the details of the motion to be debated by Parliament
during an extraordinary session on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Namik Tan said, "The motion for Lebanon will be much like
previous motions."

In the last March 1, 2003 troop motion, which was to pave the way for
Turkish troops being deployed in Iraq, no mention was made of the
number of soldiers. That motion was rejected by Parliament.

Tan, during a weekly press conference, stressed that the forces will
be deployed for a humanitarian mission if the motion is passed by
Parliament. "Turkish forces, if a decision is taken for their
deployment in Lebanon, will work to assist the Lebanese people and
provide them with comfort, health and reconstruction services," Tan
added.

Foreign Ministry sources stated yesterday that UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan will visit Turkey next Wednesday to give political support
to possible Turkish deployment of forces to Lebanon. Sources also
confirmed that during his visit, Annan will be received by Turkish
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Despite Annan’s support to Turkish
presence in Lebanon, Sezer recently expressed his opposition to the
issue. Now Ankara’s eyes are on the messages given by Sezer to Annan,
who have contrary ideas on Turkish troop deployment in Lebanon.

Besides President Sezer, Annan will also meet with Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in Ankara.

Turkish expert, Gazi University professor Nurullah Aydin considers
said that sending of Turkish forces to Lebanon is not beneficial for
Turkey. `Turkey should not become a hero of new scenarios in the Near
East. This can cause irreparable consequences. Turkey should not make
a historical mistake following the tastes of the United States and
Israel. It should peacefully coexist with the Arab world and
Iran. History shows that Lebanon is a trap created by western powers
for the Turkish army,’ Aydin underscored, reported Turkish media.