Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Al-Hashimi warns Turkey against military action
Politics, Security, Turkey, Kurdistan
(AP) - Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi on Tuesday warned against a possible Turkish incursion into Iraq to fight separatist Kurdish guerrillas and promised to prevent cross-border attacks by the rebels."We want both countries to respect the borders of each other and expect the sides to be against such a thing," al-Hashimi said upon his arrival in Ankara for a one-day visit. He was responding to a question about a possible Turkish incursion into his country to hunt down guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.
Al-Hashimi reiterated promises by Iraq to prevent attacks by the rebels. Turkey's political and military leaders have expressed frustration with the level of Iraqi cooperation and U.S. help in eradicating PKK rebels holed up in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The United States has warned Turkey against entering Iraq, fearing such a move could lead to tension with local Iraqi Kurdish groups, a key U.S. ally.
A Turkish general earlier this month said up to 3,800 Kurdish rebels were positioned in northern Iraq near the Turkish border and he reasserted his country's right to cross the border to hunt separatist Kurds who launch attacks from bases there.
Basbug said, however, that the issue of possible Turkish military operations should "not feature more than is necessary in the public agenda", a sign that the military did not want the issue to stir tension with Iraq. Last week, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul ruled out any cross-border attack amid unconfirmed reports that Turkey was massing troops on the Iraqi border.
Al-Hashimi was scheduled to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Tuesday to discuss the security situation in Iraq , which he described as "bad", and opportunities for more investment there.
Al-Hashimi reiterated promises by Iraq to prevent attacks by the rebels. Turkey's political and military leaders have expressed frustration with the level of Iraqi cooperation and U.S. help in eradicating PKK rebels holed up in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The United States has warned Turkey against entering Iraq, fearing such a move could lead to tension with local Iraqi Kurdish groups, a key U.S. ally.
A Turkish general earlier this month said up to 3,800 Kurdish rebels were positioned in northern Iraq near the Turkish border and he reasserted his country's right to cross the border to hunt separatist Kurds who launch attacks from bases there.
Basbug said, however, that the issue of possible Turkish military operations should "not feature more than is necessary in the public agenda", a sign that the military did not want the issue to stir tension with Iraq. Last week, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul ruled out any cross-border attack amid unconfirmed reports that Turkey was massing troops on the Iraqi border.
Al-Hashimi was scheduled to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Tuesday to discuss the security situation in Iraq , which he described as "bad", and opportunities for more investment there.
Labels: Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, PKK, Tariq al-Hashemi, Turkey
