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Iraq
and Turkey agree that Turkish Kurd rebels should
be stopped from using Iraqi territory for their
activities, Iraqi Vice President Ibrahim al-Jafari
said here yesterday, quoted by the Anatolia news
agency.
“We are expanding efforts to resolve the security
problem as soon as possible,” Jafari was quoted as
saying. The Baghdad government will not allow the
use of Iraqi territory for any “terrorist” activity
and will cooperate with its neighbors to establish
security, al-Jafari said.
Al-Jafari said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the
issue again when the two met here Wednesday. (AFP)
ANKARA (AFP) -- Iraq and Turkey agree Turkish Kurd
rebels should be stopped from using Iraqi territory
for their activities, Iraqi Vice President Ibrahim
al-Jafari said here Thursday, quoted by the Anatolia
news agency.
"We are expending efforts to resolve the security
problem as soon as possible," Jafari was quoted as
saying.
The Baghdad government will not allow the use of
Iraqi territory for any "terrorist" activity and
will cooperate with its neighbors to establish
security, al-Jafari said.
Turkey has long complained to both Baghdad and the
United States of the lack of action against an
estimated 4,500 to 5,000 Kurdish rebels -- some of
whom are reported to have returned to Turkey -- who
found refuge in the mountains of northern Iraq
before the US invasion of the country.
Al-Jafari said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan again raised the issue again when the two
met here Wednesday.
Ankara says the rebels, members of the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), receive military
training in camps in northern Iraq and then sneak
back into Turkey to conduct attacks on government
targets.
The PKK, now also known as KONGRA-GEL, has waged a
15-year armed campaign for self-rule in mainly
Kurdish southeastern Turkey.
The group, considered a terrorist organization by
Ankara as well as the United States and the European
Union, ended a five-year unilateral ceasefire with
Turkish sescurity forces in June.
AFP 2004
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