US ENVOY TO ANKARA: TURKEY NEEDS TO MAKE CAREFUL CALCULATIONS ON INCIRLIK
Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 8 2007
The US Ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, has replied to statements
from a top level AKP foreign affairs consultant, Egemen Bagis,
regarding Ankara’s plans to cut logistic support to the US endeavors in
Iraq if the US Congress passes the Armenian genocide bill. In regards
to the US use of Turkey’s Incirlik Air Force base for logistical
efforts throughout Iraq, Wilson noted yesterday that Turkey needed
to plan carefully on its next moves.
Responding to questions on CNN Turk, Wilson noted "We are worried that
our relations could be damaged. Of course, the Turkish administration
will make its own calculations. But these calculations better be
good. The logistical support coming out of Incirlik for our troops
in Iraq, and even for non-military Iraqis, is very important.
But here is what I think: If the stability and land unity of Iraq
weren’t important also for Turkey, it wouldn’t have offered its
support in the first place."