US issues ultimatum to Turkey on bases

THE United States yesterday said it had made a final offer of economic aid to Turkey to secure access to its bases for a possible invasion of Iraq, and was preparing to deploy troops elsewhere in the region if Ankara rejected it.

“There comes a moment when plans must be made, decisions must be made, and (negotiations) cannot stretch on indefinitely,” White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said, issuing what amounted to an ultimatum.

While Turkish bases would be “desirable” as a springboard for a possible invasion of Iraq from the north, Fleischer said the US military had the flexibility to carry out its mission without Turkey's help.

With Washington indicating a possible invasion could be just weeks away, US war planners were counting on a quick agreement, but Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said there were no plans for a parliamentary vote this week on allowing US troops on Turkish soil for a possible attack.

Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul spoke by telephone with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, but a written statement from Gul’s office indicated the two NATO allies were no closer to reaching an agreement.

In exchange for Turkish help, the US has offered Ankara an economic aid package that includes $6 billion in grants and US government backing for up to $20 billion in loans that Ankara could secure through private banks.

Turkey has, so far, balked at the offer, demanding more than $30 billion in assistance. To Washington's displeasure, Ankara deferred any decision to ask parliament to approve US troop deployments pending an agreement.

Frustrated by Ankara's demands, White House officials dug in, describing the $26bn aid package as final. With US navy ships steaming into the region, US officials said the possibility is growing that Washington will redirect forces southwards to join a main invasion force gathering near Iraq's southern borders.

Nato brought one of the stormiest chapters in its 54-year history to a close yesterday, authorising the deployment of defence equipment to Turkey which fears counter-attack in the event of a war in Iraq.

The decision was taken by the Defence Planning Committee, a forum of the 19-nation alliance on which France does not sit. Paris had blocked military planning to bolster Turkish defences.

Diplomats said the United States and some other NATO members sought a statement welcoming the move at a meeting of all 19 allied ambassadors later, but they retreated quickly when it became clear that France was prepared only to “take note” of it.