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Turkey moves forward on push into
Kurdistan-Iraq
20.7.2006
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ANKARA, Turkey -
The Turkish military is moving forward with plans to
send forces into Kurdistan (northern Iraq) to clear
out Turkish Kurdish guerrilla bases, the prime
minister said Wednesday.
But Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said officials were
holding talks with the United States and Iraq in an
attempt to defuse tensions.
Diplomats and officials have said repeatedly that
Turkey's threats to send troops into Iraq were
largely aimed at pressing the United States and Iraq
to take action against guerrillas of the Kurdistan
Workers Party or PKK, whose fighters have killed 15
Turks in the southeast in the past week.
Any Turkish cross-border operation is likely to
inflame tensions with the United States and
destabilize one of the only calm regions of Iraq. A
push into northern Iraq could also threaten ties
with EU countries, which have been pressing Turkey
to improve minority Kurdish rights as a step toward
reducing tensions in the largely Kurdish southeast.
And there is the possibility that Kurds in largely
autonomous northern Iraq could fight the Turks if
they enter the country. The guerrillas are mostly
based in the Qandil mountains that straddle Iraq's
border with Iran, about 50 miles from the Turkish
border. They infiltrate southeastern Turkey from
those bases to attack.
"Any unilateral cross-border moves would be a great
mistake," said Qubad Talabani, representative in
Washington of the Kurdistan regional government,
which controls northern Iraq.
"There is no military solution to the PKK problem,"
Talabani, the son of the Iraqi president, told The
Associated Press. "I think Turkey only sees a
military solution."
Erdogan said Wednesday Turkish "security forces are
proceeding with their work. Whatever step needs to
be taken will be taken."
But he added that "we have started negotiations with
the United States and Iraq concerning the issue by
inviting their ambassadors to the Foreign Ministry.
We will see what the results are and take steps
accordingly."
U.S. Ambassador Ross Wilson said Monday and again
Tuesday that Turkey should work with Washington and
Baghdad and should not take unilateral action in
Iraq.
"It is not up to the ambassador or ambassadors to
make such a decision," Erdogan shot back. "It is up
to the officials of the government of the Republic
of Turkey. We make the decision and implement it."
The main opposition party in Turkey's parliament
said it supports any cross-border operation.
AP
Southeastern Turkey:
North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey) wikipedia
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