The Turkish government is preparing to ask Parliament next week for broad authorization to send troops to a peacekeeping force in Lebanon, without specifying the number of soldiers in the motion, officials said on Thursday. Officials from the Foreign Ministry and General Staff yesterday continued work on the motion. A source from the Foreign Ministry stated that although the motion was to be sent to Parliament on Thursday, it will be delayed pending further evaluations but sources say that a delay in Tuesday’s debate in Parliament is not expected.
The motion, which will determine the details of the mission in Lebanon for Turkish forces, won’t include the number of troops, sources said, underlining that the move will leave the issue flexible and give the government the opportunity to alter the force size as it sees fit in the future.
The sources also said that they expect the forces to be deployed in Lebanon to number in the hundreds, not the thousands. Briefing reporters about the details of the motion to be debated by Parliament during an extraordinary session on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Namik Tan said, “The motion for Lebanon will be much like previous motions.”
In the last March 1, 2003 troop motion, which was to pave the way for Turkish troops being deployed in Iraq, no mention was made of the number of soldiers. That motion was rejected by Parliament.
Tan, during a weekly press conference, stressed that the forces will be deployed for a humanitarian mission if the motion is passed by Parliament. “Turkish forces, if a decision is taken for their deployment in Lebanon, will work to assist the Lebanese people and provide them with comfort, health and reconstruction services,” Tan added.
Foreign Ministry sources stated yesterday that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will visit Turkey next Wednesday to give political support to possible Turkish deployment of forces to Lebanon. Sources also confirmed that during his visit, Annan will be received by Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Despite Annan’s support to Turkish presence in Lebanon, Sezer recently expressed his opposition to the issue. Now Ankara’s eyes are on the messages given by Sezer to Annan, who have contrary ideas on Turkish troop deployment in Lebanon.
Besides President Sezer, Annan will also meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in Ankara.
Turkish expert, Gazi University professor Nurullah Aydin considers said that sending of Turkish forces to Lebanon is not beneficial for Turkey. “Turkey should not become a hero of new scenarios in the Near East. This can cause irreparable consequences. Turkey should not make a historical mistake following the tastes of the United States and Israel. It should peacefully coexist with the Arab world and Iran. History shows that Lebanon is a trap created by western powers for the Turkish army,” Aydin underscored, reported Turkish media.
