Wednesday, Feb 12, 2003
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By Atul Aneja
The decision of Germany, France and Belgium to block a proposal by the United States to plan for a NATO protective shield for Turkey, a partner of the alliance, to counter a possible Iraqi attack with unconventional weapons has begun to generate a serious internal debate in Ankara, which the official reaction to the event does not reflect. The Foreign Minister, Yasar Yakis, said, "They (Germany, France and Belgium) did not veto the protection of Turkey. These countries have problems with the timing,'' he said, adding that the "problem can be overcome, because there is no disagreement on principle.'' But a section of the Turkish intelligentsia has begun to read in the Franco-German decision an indication that Turkey's destiny will be tied with the United States rather than the Europeans.
Diplomatic sources here said that differences over Iraq were shaking the foundations on which the post-Word War II international order had been constructed, as there was now a strong possibility that the rift visible within NATO would also be reflected in the U.N. Security Council that meets on Friday to discuss the report the Chief U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix, would present. Sections of the Arab world that stand staunchly opposed to a war in Iraq have however lauded France and Germany. "Whether or not it succeeds in convincing the U.S. to abandon the use of force, France will be perceived as a country that has defended the UN Charter till the end," said the Yemeni Foreign Minister, Abu Bakr Abdullah Al Kurbi. The Egyptian weekly Al Usbu has praised France for standing to what it describes as the U.S. `diktat'. Quite expectedly, the Iraqi Opposition leaders in exile as well as the pro-U.S. Kurdish groups have blasted France and Germany for their effort to stall a war on Iraq. ``I cannot understand their position,'' said Ahmad Barmani, a representative of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. "They want to let Saddam stay in power. Unfortunately the position of some of the European countries gives the impression to the Iraqi people that these countries are trying to prevent Saddam from being overthrown.'' Ahmad Chalabi, who heads the U.S.-backed Iraqi National Congress, has also lashed out at Germany and France.
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