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Turkish army has no intention to take part in the on-going war against Iraq nor to occupy northern Iraq by reinforcement into the region, Turkish army chief General Hilmi Ozkok said Wednesday.
Addressing a news conference at the 7th Army Corps Command in Diyarbakir, Ozkok said "instability is our most important security consideration."
"Any instability, which can stem from possible attacks on Turkish forces, a serious inflow of Iraqi refugees into Turkish borders and any conflicts between the armed groups in the region or attacks on civilians, is our most important security consideration," Ozkok told reporters.
In such cases, Turkey would decide to send more troops into Northern Iraq, he said, but adding that Turkey would coordinate with the United States to avoid any misunderstanding.
Turkey has no intention to establish a permanent buffer zone in Northern Iraq, he added.
Ozkok also reconfirmed that there are currently some Turkish troops in Northern Iraq.
Despite stubborn opposition from Washington and warnings by the European Union and NATO, Turkey has insisted it will send troops into northern Iraq if it deems it necessary.
Turkey is concerned over possible moves by Iraqi Kurds to assert independence, a prospect that could reignite a separatist Kurdish rebellion in adjoining southeastern Turkey.
(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2003)
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