Posted on 03/11/2003 9:18:33 AM PST by anotherview
Mar. 11, 2003
Turkey's prime minister resigns to open way for party leader to take power
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ANKARA, Turkey - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul resigned Tuesday so that the charismatic leader of his party could take power, a shift that comes as Turkey is under heavy pressure to let in US troops for a possible Iraq war.
Gul resigned during a brief meeting at the presidency, an official at the Prime Ministry said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.
The change in leadership had been widely expected.
Gul said earlier Tuesday that he would step down so that Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who won a parliamentary seat in by-elections Sunday, could take over as prime minister.
Erdogan, the popular leader of Turkey's governing Justice and Development party, was sworn in as a member of parliament earlier Tuesday.
Erdogan could not run in the November general elections because of a conviction for inciting religious hatred, but party legislators have since amended the constitution to lift the ban.
The change of government comes as Washington presses Turkey to allow US troops to use its territory as a staging point for an invasion of Iraq from the north. Ships carrying equipment for the troops are already off the Turkish coast.
Despite overwhelming opposition to a war in Turkey, Erdogan has advocated allowing US combat troops in and has hinted that he favored resubmitting a motion to parliament to give US soldiers the go-ahead.
Earlier this month, parliament stunned the United States when it rejected the deployment of US combat troops in the country. Gul, who is expected to take a top post in the new government, said the new government would take up the issue quickly.
"As soon as the government is formed, I am sure they will review the issue in the best way and act in the best interest of Turkey," Gul said in a television interview.
If there were a war, Turkey could not just be a "spectator," Gul said.
But he added that "it is necessary to very carefully follow the process at the United Nations." The United States is pushing for a U.N. Security Council resolution this week that would authorize the use of force, but has so far faces still opposition.
"What is important is, of course, if a motion comes to the parliament once again, it has to pass," Gul added. Erdogan called President Bush on Monday after the election victory, the US Embassy said. Bush pressed him to open Turkey to US troops, the daily Hurriyet reported.
Rebuffing the United States risks straining ties with Washington and losing a say in Iraq's future. As part of a troop deployment deal, Turkey is also set to receive a US$15 billion US aid package to help cushion the frail economy from the impact of war.
Analysts believe the election victory strengthened Erdogan's hand with his party legislators. Erdogan is likely to exclude from his Cabinet ministers opposed to the US troop deployment, reports say.
But hours after his triumph, Erdogan appeared to be in no great hurry about a second motion, saying Turkey needed more assurances from Washington on the future of neighboring Iraq before it could authorize the deployment.
During Gul's brief term, Erdogan strongly influenced policy, and Cabinet ministers including Gul often consulted him after key meetings. It was Erdogan, and not Gul, whom Bush invited to the White House after the Islamic-rooted Justice party came to power following the November elections.
This does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling.
This entire dance is moot.IMHO
I agree that this is moot. It may be a feint on our part.
I wouldn't rely on Turkey at all; LET'S ROLL!
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