Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris
Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris
Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris
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REVUE DE PRESSE-PRESS REVIEW-BERHEVOKA ÇAPÊ-RWISTA STAMPA-DENTRO DE LA PRENSA-BASIN ÖZETÎ<br />
Thursday, June 2,1994 turkish daily news<br />
Congress warns Pentagon about Turkey's<br />
possible refusal on Provi<strong>de</strong> Comfort<br />
GAO voices doubts on Provi<strong>de</strong> Comfort and Pentagon's expertise<br />
By Ultur Akmel<br />
Turkish Daily N~s<br />
WASHINGTON- The General Accounting Office<br />
(GAO), a U.S. government agency, has raised serious<br />
questions on the nature and feasIbility of Operation<br />
Provi<strong>de</strong> Comfort in a review it submitted to the U.S.<br />
Congress.<br />
GAO has pointed out the following problem areas<br />
regarding the operation:<br />
1) The open-en<strong>de</strong>d commitment and the high cost of<br />
the operatIons, which is being borne by tiie United<br />
States.<br />
2) The changing nature of the humanitarian aid element<br />
of the operation """':'" from "emergency relief' to a<br />
"<strong>de</strong>velopment assistance program."<br />
3) The Defense Department's lack of expertise in<br />
administering a humamtarian assistance program.<br />
4) The use of U.S. funds to purchase fuel, which is<br />
then s~pplied to the Kurds in northern Iraq, from Iraqi<br />
refinenes.<br />
S) Uncertainties as to wh<strong>et</strong>her the Turkish $overnment<br />
will continue to support the use of the lnclI'lik Air<br />
base tocarry out to the operation.<br />
CaD for sharing costs<br />
GAO's review was discussed this month at the House<br />
Armed Services Committee and inc01'P.0ratedinto the<br />
National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4301) for<br />
Fiscal Year 1995. The Pentagon has so far spent a totar<br />
of $2.1 billion on the 0lX:ration. In its report, the committee<br />
expressed the belief that "the secr<strong>et</strong>ary of <strong>de</strong>fense<br />
s.hould.work 'YÎth the secr<strong>et</strong>ary of state to ac:quire addi.<br />
tional mternational pledges to the Defense Cooperation<br />
Account for use in supporting U.S. efforts in northern<br />
Iraq."<br />
In the press briefing he held today in Washington<br />
with foreIgn journalists, Assistant Secr<strong>et</strong>ary of State<br />
Steph~n Oxm~ (he~d of the bureau of Euro~an and<br />
Canadian Affarrs) SaId that Operation Provi<strong>de</strong> Comfort<br />
~as "very important': for ~e United States. So~es predIct<br />
that the operatIon WIll be one of the tOpICSthat<br />
Qxman and Turkish Foreign Ministry Un<strong>de</strong>rsecr<strong>et</strong>ary<br />
Oz<strong>de</strong>m Sanberk will discuss during the latter's visitto<br />
Washington this week.<br />
Tool of 'nation bulldin~'<br />
The House Armed ServIces committee registered its<br />
1 iscomfort\Vi!h.thef~that Operation Provi<strong>de</strong> Comfort<br />
~ad become. a (001. of 'Dation building" innorthern Iraq.<br />
'The C01DDlltteedirects the secr<strong>et</strong>ary of <strong>de</strong>fense, in consultation<br />
with the secr<strong>et</strong>ary of state .<br />
an.d the direc.tor of the Agency for<br />
fu.~.eQlational~velop-~ent (AID),"<br />
tIie report stated, "to reassess the<br />
program in northern Iraq with a view<br />
to providing basic relief assistance<br />
without fostering 'nation building.'<br />
The committee further directs the<br />
secr<strong>et</strong>ary to change the <strong>de</strong>partment's<br />
procedures for purchasing fuelto<br />
ensure that the revenue from the sale<br />
does not go to the Iraqi government"<br />
lncirlik and the need<br />
for a contingency plan<br />
The House Armed Services<br />
Committee warned the government<br />
about the repercussions of Turkey's<br />
<strong>de</strong>nialto extend the operation and<br />
asked for contingency' plans to be<br />
~~veloped. '1'h~Inc!rlik Air B~e is<br />
VItal to the continuation of Operation<br />
Provi<strong>de</strong> Comfort ..<br />
The United States and its coalition<br />
partners, however, have no contin-<br />
~ency' plans for continuing the operation<br />
if access is <strong>de</strong>nied.<br />
While it is in the best interests of<br />
Turker, the United States and the<br />
coalitIon partners to continue<br />
Operation Provi<strong>de</strong> Comfort from<br />
mcirlik, it is pru<strong>de</strong>nt to have a contingency<br />
plan in the eventthat the<br />
base is closed to U.S. forces.<br />
Therefore, the committee directs<br />
the secr<strong>et</strong>ary of <strong>de</strong>fense to begin<br />
<strong>de</strong>veloping such plans."<br />
19