Turkey Opposes Inquiry Into Iraqi Chemical Weapons

On Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1988, US State Department officials said that US intelligence agencies have confirmed Iraq's use of chemicals in its recent drive against Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq.The United Nations has announced that teams were ready to go to Iraq and Turkey to investigate poison gas charges. Neither country has agreed to allow the investigators on their territory.Today, The Turkish government said that the investigation would be unnecessary and unwelcome."Turkish medical workers had found no trace or evidence of chemical weapons. A United Nations investigation is unwarranted," said Inal Batu, the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman."If a team of experts is sent to Turkey this would involve Turkey directly in the matter. Such an attempt would also create a wrong impression that Turkish medical experts are inadequate to make related research," Batu added. Read full story