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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,4235970,00.html Turkey seeks aid in Afghan role The Australian May i, 2002 -The US administration has promised Turkey it will ask Congress for $US200 million ($372.58 million) in economic aid and another $US28 million ($52.16 million) in military aid for Turkey. THE head of the Turkish military has asked the US and other nations to provide satellite communication systems and cargo planes before his forces assume command of the Afghan peacekeeping force. General Huseyin Kivrikoglu said: "If these requests are met, Turkey would carry out this mission in the best way." Turkey, NATO's sole Muslim member, officially announced yesterday that it will take over the command of the international force in Afghanistan. Such a role for Turkey would strengthen the US argument that the war against terror is not between Islam and the West. "The Turkish government has agreed in principle to lead the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan," Kivrikoglu told CNN-Turk television. "But, Turkey has some requests. Some equipment and abilities which are not in the inventory of Turkey should be supported by other nations." Britain has reportedly refused to leave its own military satellite communication system to the Turks because of apparent security concerns. Turkey needs a new satellite system to communicate with the forces of 17 other nations participating in the peacekeeping force, patrolling in and around Kabul. The United States had agreed to help Turkey to buy the satellite systems, the daily Radikal newspaper said today. Turkey also wants heavy cargo planes to transport armoured vehicles and light military vehicles to Afghanistan. Lieutenant Colonel Neil Peckham, of the British forces in Afghanistan, said today that he does not believe that a handover will take place before June. "We expect that we'll be remaining as lead nation until the latter part of June," said Peckham, spokesman for the International Security Assistance Forces, or ISAF. He said Britain would like to remain in charge until after the Loya Jirga, or Grand Council, decides whether to back the interim government of Hamid Karzai or select another administration. The military planning for a handover would also take time, he added. Kivrikoglu urged Afghan factions to leave aside past factional fighting. "This is a very important opportunity for Afghan people," Kivrikoglu said. "If they keep their conflicts alive ... the chaos will persist." He said he opposed Afghan demands to expand the 4,500-strong force throughout the country to stop regional warlords from vying for power. "It is a very small force for such a big country," Kivrikoglu said. Turkey, which is struggling with a deep economic crisis, is also worried about the mission's cost. The US administration has promised Turkey it will ask Congress for $US200 million ($372.58 million) in economic aid and another $US28 million ($52.16 million) in military aid for Turkey. Turkey has some 270 peacekeepers in Afghanistan and is expected to deploy another 1,000 soldiers. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
