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US says Turkey has right to defend itself
against Kurdish rebels
20.7.2006
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ANKARA, July 19,
2006 (AFP) , -- The United States said on Wednesday
that Turkey has the right to defend itself against
mounting violence by Kurdish rebels, a day after
Ankara accused Washington of applying double
standards to the region.
But Washington repeated US opposition to unilateral
Turkish action in neighbouring northern Iraq against
bases belonging to the separatist Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK). PKK militants are blamed for the deaths
of 15 members of the security forces in southeast
Turkey last week.
"Turkey, like every country, has a right and an
obligation to defend itself and its people," the US
said in a statement issued by its embassy in Ankara.
It followed harsh remarks on Tuesday by Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said that US
support for Israeli offensives against militants in
Lebanon and the Gaza Strip while it opposed Turkish
action in Kurdish-populated northern Iraq
constituted double standards.
Like Ankara, Washington considers the PKK a
"terrorist" organisation and has pledged support for
Turkish efforts to combat the Kurdish separatist
group.
"Terrorism is terrorism everywhere," Erdogan said.
"It is not possible to agree with a mentality that
tolerates country A and displays a different
attitude when it comes to country B."
Earlier, US Ambassador Ross Wilson had warned that a
cross-border operation against the PKK would be
"unwise" and urged Ankara to coordinate its moves
with the United States.
"Working together with the United States and the
government of Iraq can be an essential part of
advancing Turkish security," the embassy statement
said.
"We look forward to continued close cooperation with
Turkey ... as our countries address together the
threat posed by the PKK and the other security
challenges we face."
Washington argues that its forces in Iraq are
overwhelmed by violence in other parts of the
country and that military action against the PKK in
the north could upset the relative stability of the
Kurdish-populated region.
Washington's reluctance to take action against the
PKK in northern Iraq, which border Turkey, has often
poisoned ties with Ankara, a key Muslim ally in the
Middle East.
After a series of high-level security meetings,
Ankara urged Washington and Baghdad on Monday to
crack down on the PKK and warned that it was ready
to engage in cross-border military action if they
failed to do so.
Ankara says the PKK uses mountain bases in northern
Iraq as a springboard for attacks across the border
in Turkey.
At least 87 PKK rebels and 51 members of the
security forces have died in escalating unrest in
southeast Turkey this year, according to an AFP
count.
In addition, Kurdish militants claimed
responsibility for 11 bomb attacks in urban centres,
in which nine people were killed and nearly 140
injured.
AFP
Southeastern Turkey:
North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey) wikipedia
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