Accord Signed to Keep U.S. Bases in Turkey

The United States and Turkey signed an agreement Monday preserving American military bases in Turkey until 1990 and giving Turkey better access to U.S. markets and the right to co-produce some American weapons.

The letters of agreement signed at the State Department by Secretary of State George P. Shultz and Turkish Foreign Minister Vahit Halefoglu support an earlier agreement renewing the leases on 27 American air and naval bases and intelligence and logistical installations in Turkey.

Several of the listening posts are specifically designed to eavesdrop on Soviet shipping through the Dardanelles and Soviet missile tests on a range just north of the Turkish border.

Although the agreement covers a five-year period, it is predated to 1985, when the last one expired, and thus runs only about 3 1/2 more years. Congressional approval is not required.

As part of the new defense and cooperation agreement, the U.S. Administration committed itself to “propose annually a high level of support for Turkey” but did not mention a specific figure.

In the current year, Turkey is scheduled to receive $642 million in economic and military assistance loans or grants, a reduction of $94 million from last year.

Shultz has asked Congress for an increase in the current year’s aid level, but the response from Congress has been cool.

In an address Monday night, Halefoglu noted the negative impact of the energetic lobbying efforts by Greek-Americans, who have tried to tie future U.S. relations with Turkey to a Turkish willingness to pull its occupation troops out of Cyprus.

“Unfortunately, we do not have Turkish-Americans in sufficient number in this country to counterbalance certain influences of ethnic politics,” Halefoglu said. “We therefore look to the Administration which, as far as I know, is the most powerful influence in town, to bring its great weight to bear for the fulfillment of its commitments.”

Under the letters of agreement, the State Department will try to restructure the repayment of past military assistance loans in order to ease Turkish financial problems.

The United States also agreed to increase the Turkish share in the research, development, production and maintenance of U.S.-supplied equipment such as M-60 tanks and some aircraft, including F-16s and F-4s.

The United States also will remove obstacles to Turkish imports, especially textiles.