|
Iraqi Government demands Turkish troops'
withdrawal
26.2.2008
|
|
|
|
February 26, 2008
BAGHDAD, Iraq, -- Iraq on Tuesday
condemned Turkey's incursion into Kurdistan region
in 'northern Iraq' to fight Turkey's Kurdish PKK
guerrillas in the strongest terms so far and
demanded an immediate end to the violation of its
sovereignty.
The Turkish
troops crossed the border
last Thursday to root out PKK fighters who took up
arms for self-rule in the country's mainly Kurdish
southeast of Turkey since 1984.
The Iraqi government, in an ordinary cabinet
session, expressed rejection and condemnation
against the Turkish military intervention in Iraqi
Kurdistan, calling for avoiding targeting
infrastructures and civilians.
"The cabinet expressed its rejection and
condemnation for the Turkish military interference,www.ekurd.net
which is considered a
violation of Iraq's sovereignty," the Iraqi
government said in a statement released by spokesman
Ali al-Dabbagh.
"The government discussed the situation on the
Iraqi-Turkish borders after Turkish troops crossed
the joint frontiers," according to a cabinet
statement.
"The cabinet stresses that unilateral military
action is not acceptable and threatens good
relations between the two neighbors."
The cabinet called on Turkey to immediately withdraw
its troops and refrain from military activities,
stressing that a unilateral military action would
not be acceptable and is threatening good relations
between the two neighboring countries.
Dabbagh said earlier on Tuesday that a Turkish envoy
would meet Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd,
and government leaders including Foreign Minister
Hoshiyar Zebari in Baghdad on Wednesday.
Turkish troops, backed by warplanes and artillery,
have been fighting Turkish-Kurdish guerrillas at
close quarters as they advance on a Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) base.
The Turkish military has said 153 rebels have been
killed in the operation.
The Kurdish PKK rebels disputed the claim and warned
that Turkey had entered a conflict that it cannot
win.
A statement posted on the military's Web site Monday
also said two more soldiers were killed in fighting,www.ekurd.net
but gave no details. The
deaths would bring the total Turkish military
fatalities since the start of the incursion Thursday
to 17.
Iraqi Kurdistan politician says, Turkey is using
Turkey's Kurdish separatist PKK rebel group as an
excuse to invade Kurdistan region 'Iraq' to prevent
the establishment of Kurdistan state in the Kurdish
autonomous region in 'northern Iraq', Turkey fears
this could fan separatism among its own large
Kurdish population in southeast Turkey.
Analysts believe the Turkish raids inside Iraqi
Kurdistan region had a secondary purpose of
discouraging a referendum on Kirkuk city. Ankara
fears that if the oil-rich Kirkuk joins Kurdistan,
the Kurds will have the economic foundation they
need for an independent state.
The PKK demanded Turkey's recognition of the Kurds'
identity in its constitution and of their language
as a native language along with Turkish in the
country's Kurdish areas, the party also demanded
an end to ethnic discrimination in Turkish laws and
constitution against Kurds, ranting them full
political freedoms.
The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by
the U.S. and the EU.
Information for this report was provided by AP |
Reuters | VOI | Agencies
**
Iraqi Kurdistan politician says, Turkey is using
Turkey's Kurdish separatist PKK rebel group as an
excuse to invade Kurdistan region 'Iraq' to prevent
the establishment of Kurdistan state in the Kurdish
autonomous region in 'northern Iraq', Turkey fears
this could fan separatism among its own large
Kurdish population in southeast Turkey.
Over 39,000 Turkish soldiers and Kurdish PKK
guerrillas have been killed since 1984 when the PKK
took up arms for self-rule in the country's mainly
Kurdish southeast of Turkey. A large Turkey's
Kurdish community openly sympathise with the Kurdish
PKK rebels.
The PKK demanded Turkey's recognition of the Kurds'
identity in its constitution and of their language
as a native language along with Turkish in the
country's Kurdish areas, the party also demanded
an end to ethnic discrimination in Turkish laws and
constitution against Kurds, ranting them full
political freedoms.
The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by
the U.S. and the EU.
VOI
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 