US and Turkey make new agreement

The United States and Turkey today agreed on an “early warning” system to avert friction between Ankara and Kurds of northern Iraq.

The deal, worked out by US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Turkish leaders, was designed to reduce any likelihood of Turkish troops being sent over the border into Iraq.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said “new doors will open for us” in co-operating with the United States.

Powell said Turkey had also agreed to facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid to Iraqi civilians and fuel supplies to coalition forces.

He said enhanced military co-operation, such as evacuating wounded troops through Turkey or allowing coalition planes in distress to land in Turkey, was also being considered.

Powell said he hoped the new arrangement would be concluded within a week and that the Iraqi Kurds would co-operate.

“We have the situation under control,” he said. “There is no need for movement of troops across the border.”

Turkey, with a large Kurdish population, is worried the Iraqi Kurds might declare independence and embolden rebels in Turkey, who have fought for autonomy in the south-east for 15 years.

Powell said the early warning system would provide for immediate consultation between Turkish and US officials in the event of tension.

At the end of the 1991 Gulf War, there was a surge of Kurdish refugees from Iraq into Turkey.

Turkey’s refusal to allow its territory to be used by US forces invading Iraq strained relations between Washington and Ankara and led the White House to shelve a proposed aid package of loans and grants.