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U.S. envoy calls on Turkey to be patient
in fight against PKK
31.1.2007 |
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January 31, 2007
ANKARA, Turkey,- The United States is
considering 'many actions" to curb Turkish Kurd
rebels based in northern Iraq and believes it can
count on the help of the region's Iraqi Kurdish
leaders, a US envoy said here yesterday.
Joseph W. Ralston, special coordinator of efforts
against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), made the
comment after talks with Turkish officials amid
growing anger here over Washington's failure to
fulfil pledges to move against the group, listed as
a terrorist group by both countries.
"We have many actions in front of us that we have
been working on to counter the PKK," Ralston said
after lengthy talks with Turkish counterpart Edip
Baser and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
Visiting U.S. special representative for countering
'terrorism', retired Gen. Joseph Ralston, Tuesday
called on Turkey to show more patience in the fight
against Kurdish PKK rebels, Turkey's semi-official
Anatolia news agency reported. |
U.S Retired Gen. Joseph Ralston |
Speaking to the reporters after talks with his
Turkish counterpart, retired Gen. Edip Base, Ralston
said that Turkish public and media should show more
patience on this issue for the sake of the success
of the fight against Turkish Kurd rebels.
The U.S. envoy also told reporters that "We (U.S.)
have focused on fight against the terrorist
organization," referring to the Kurdish Workers'
Party (PKK) rebels who are taking shelter in Iraqi
territories.
He said that the Mahmur camp in northern Iraq was
cleared-off from the PKK rebels, but acknowledged
that there were still things to do there.
On his part, Edip Baser affirmed the progress has
been achieved in the fight against terrorism, but
admitted that it would not be rational to expect a
result within a short period.
He also disclosed that the two sides had agreed
during their talks to start collective activities in
the domain of anti- terrorism.
"We are trying to carry the activities we have
fulfilled so far, one step ahead."
With regard to this issue, Baser said he could have
an opportunity to reveal more concrete information
in a further phase.
But he disclosed that Ralston and he would have more
talks on Tuesday evening and Wednesday.
Ralston's visit to Turkey follows various criticisms
in Turkey that Washington is not so effective in
fight against the PKK and mounting calls for a
cross-border military operation into Kurdistan
autonomous region (northern Iraq).
Earlier this month, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan has said that the U.S. had taken no
actions to expel the PKK militants from its bases in
northern Iraq or to cut off financial support to the
rebel group.
Turkey has threatened to take unilateral military
action against the PKK rebels based in Kurdistan
(northern Iraq) if the U.S. failed to address the
problem.
However, Washington has warned Turkey against such
action, fearing a Turkish incursion could alienate
Iraqi Kurds.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the
European Union and the United States, launched an
armed campaign for an ethnic homeland in the mainly
Kurdish southeastern Turkey in 1984, sparking
decades of strife that has claimed more than 30,000
lives.
Source: Xinhua | Agencies
The use of the term "Kurdistan" is vigorously
rejected due to its alleged political implications
by the Republic of Turkey, which does not recognize
the existence of a "Turkish Kurdistan"
Southeast Turkey. The Kurds have no rights in
Turkey.
Others estimate as many as 40 million Kurds live in
Big Kurdistan (Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Armenia),
which covers an area as big as France, about half of
all Kurds which estimate to 20 million live in
Turkey.
The Kurdish flag flown officially in Iraqi Kurdistan but
unofficially flown by Kurds in Armenia. The flag is
banned in Iran, Syria, and Turkey where flying it is
a criminal offence"
Southeastern Turkey:
North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey) wikipedia
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