The United States said Tuesday that it is in Turkey’s interests, as well as all the NATO allies not to stop the military activities conducted from the Incirlik base east of Turkey.
The base is used by the US and British aircraft to monitor the northern no-fly zone imposed by the two countries on Iraq under the pretext of protecting the Iraqi Kurds from Baghdad.
At a press briefing Tuesday, a copy of which was e-mailed to Albawaba.com, State Department Richard Boucher was asked to comment on a resolution under debate at Turkey’s parliament calling for the operations carried out from the base to be stopped.
“I think it is in our mutual interest that … efforts that we make along with other NATO allies are able to continue; it is in Turkey’s interest, and the interest of other members of the Alliance,” said Boucher.
Iraq has repeatedly criticized its northern neighbor for allowing “the aggressors” to use its territories to launch attacks.
The US and Britain use bases in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to monitor the southern no-fly zone in Iraq – Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
