First batch of US warplanes arrive in Turkey for Kosovo strikes

[english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl]

   ANKARA, May 31 (AFP) - A first batch of US warplanes has arrived  
at an air base in western Turkey, one of three facilities earmarked 
for use in NATO's bombing raids on Yugoslavia, base commander 
General Murat Bulgan said on Monday. 
   Speaking to Anatolia news agency, Bulgan said 38 F-15 and F-16  
jets would be deployed at Balikesir base. He did not say how many 
planes had already arrived or when. 
   "Preparations for NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia (from  
Turkish bases) have come to the final stage," Bulgan said. 
   Since Sunday, US C-5 and C-17 cargo planes have been bringing in  
equipment, provisions and NATO personnel to Balikesir. 
   Officials at the base told Anatolia that some 1,000 NATO  
soldiers had already landed at the base and added that the number 
was expected to reach some 2,000 in the coming days. 
   The chief of the Turkish general staff, Huseyin Kivrikoglu, said  
last week that 54 NATO planes will be deployed in bases at Balikesir 
and Bandirma, which lies some 70 kilometres (45 miles) to the north 
of Balikesir, in early June. 
   Kivrikoglu had added that negotiations were continuing between  
Turkish and NATO officials on determining the base where tanker 
planes would be deployed. 
   The bases in consideration are Corlu in the northwest Turkish  
province of Tekirdag and the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey. 
   Incirlik is home to British and US warplanes which enforce a  
"no-fly" zone in northern Iraq imposed after the 1991 Gulf War in 
order to protect the Kurdish population in the region. 
   Turkey has dispatched 18 F-16 fighter jets to the Italian air  
base of Ghedi to take part in the NATO strikes against Yugoslav 
targets. 
   The Turkish planes were initially assigned combat air patrol  
missions, protecting other units, but have been taking part in 
bombings since the end of April. 
   The commander of the Turkish air force, Ilhan Kilic, said last  
week that Ankara might send troops to Kosovo if NATO decides to 
carry out a ground operation. 
   Turkey, a NATO member since 1953, fully supports the NATO air  
campaign against Yugoslavia, citing ethnic and historical ties to 
the region, which was under Ottoman rule for 500 years. 
  	   	
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