The United States has made its final offer of economic aid to Turkey to secure access to Turkish bases for a possible US-led invasion of Iraq and is waiting for Ankara's response, the White House said today.
"There's not a lot of time left," White House spokesman Mr Ari Fleischer told reporters. Asked if the United States had presented Turkey with its final offer, Mr Fleischer said: "That's a pretty good way to describe it."
"Either an agreement will be reached or no agreement will be reached," Mr Fleischer added. "There comes a moment when plans must be made, decisions must be made, and it cannot stretch on indefinitely."
The United States is pressing for a quick agreement that would allow American forces to use Turkish bases as a springboard for a possible invasion of Iraq from the north.
In exchange for Turkish help, the United States has offered Ankara an aid package that includes $6 billion in grants and up to $20 billion in loan guarantees. But so far, Turkey has balked at the offer, demanding more than $30 billion in assistance, according to US sources.