Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Barzani - Kurds will retaliate if Turkey interferes in Kurdistan
Turkey, Kurdistan, Security
(VOA) - The Iraqi Kurdish leader has again warned Turkey not to interfere in northern Iraq, saying Iraqi Kurds would retaliate by interfering in Kurdish areas in Turkey if that happened. Massoud Barzani spoke Tuesday in Arbil, the capital of Iraq's largely autonomous northern Kurdish region. He said Iraqi Kurds would interfere only if Turkey did the same in mainly Kurdish northern Iraq.
Barzani also said his initial warning broadcast last Saturday by Al-Arabiya television was taken out of context. He said the remarks were originally recorded on February 26, and that he made them in response to Turkish threats. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded to Barzani's initial warning on Monday. He said Iraqi Kurds will - in his words - pay a heavy price if they interfere in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast.
Mr. Erdogan said Barzani "overstepped the line" and said Iraqi Kurds could be "crushed" under their own words. Turkey sent a diplomatic note to Iraq's government over the incident. U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also criticized Barzani's remarks, saying they were not helpful and did not further the goal of greater Iraqi -Turkish cooperation.
Turkey is battling a Kurdish insurgency in its southeastern region. More than 37,000 people have been killed in the fighting since 1984. Turkey is concerned that Kurdish rebels are using northern Iraq to launch attacks in southeastern Turkey. Ankara is also worried that any move toward independence by Iraqi Kurds will spark similar sentiments in Kurds in Turkey.
Barzani also said his initial warning broadcast last Saturday by Al-Arabiya television was taken out of context. He said the remarks were originally recorded on February 26, and that he made them in response to Turkish threats. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded to Barzani's initial warning on Monday. He said Iraqi Kurds will - in his words - pay a heavy price if they interfere in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast.
Mr. Erdogan said Barzani "overstepped the line" and said Iraqi Kurds could be "crushed" under their own words. Turkey sent a diplomatic note to Iraq's government over the incident. U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also criticized Barzani's remarks, saying they were not helpful and did not further the goal of greater Iraqi -Turkish cooperation.
Turkey is battling a Kurdish insurgency in its southeastern region. More than 37,000 people have been killed in the fighting since 1984. Turkey is concerned that Kurdish rebels are using northern Iraq to launch attacks in southeastern Turkey. Ankara is also worried that any move toward independence by Iraqi Kurds will spark similar sentiments in Kurds in Turkey.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday sought to appease Ankara. His office issued a statement on his behalf, saying it was his government that decides on regional issues and not any single leader. "The foreign policy of Iraq is planned and executed by the Iraqi government," said the statement quoting Maliki, who is currently on a trip to Tokyo and Seoul.
"This policy reflects our intention to maintain best relations with neighbours and does not aim to intervene in their affairs. At the same time we will not allow neighbours to intervene in our affairs." Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has already telephoned his Turkish counterpart to express his regret over Barzani's remarks.
"This policy reflects our intention to maintain best relations with neighbours and does not aim to intervene in their affairs. At the same time we will not allow neighbours to intervene in our affairs." Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has already telephoned his Turkish counterpart to express his regret over Barzani's remarks.
Labels: Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, Nouri Al-Maliki, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Sean McCormack, Turkey
