Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Turkey says no present plans to attack northern Iraq
Region
(Reuters) - Turkey said on Wednesday it had no plans at present to send troops into northern Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels there, but it indicated this remained an option in the future. Media speculation is high of a possible cross-border operation against rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which uses mainly Kurdish northern Iraq as a base from which to launch attacks in Turkey.
Parliament, now in recess ahead of July 22 elections, would have to reconvene to authorise any military operation beyond Turkey's borders. Asked if the Foreign Ministry was readying documents for such a move, spokesman Levent Bilman told a news conference: "At this time there is no work on such an authorisation, but Turkey is ready for anything at any time."
The Turkish army has said its big buildup of troops and tanks near the border with Iraq is a routine seasonal operation intended to combat PKK rebels inside Turkey or trying to enter. On Monday, European Union officials visiting Ankara said they had discussed the media reports with their hosts but said Turkey gave no indication that an operation was being planned.
The United States and Iraq have both urged Turkey not to send troops, saying the problem could be best resolved by diplomatic means. They fear military action could destabilise the most peaceful and prosperous region of war-ravaged Iraq.
Bilman told the weekly news conference Ankara was not opposed to talks with Iraqi Kurdish authorities, but said they must show they are taking concrete steps against the PKK. "Turkey is not a country that has ever excluded dialogue. We need positive signals in order to be able to take steps on a dialogue. This means the launch of serious action against the PKK," Bilman said.
Turkey is furious with U.S. and Iraqi authorities for failing to crack down on the estimated 4,000 PKK rebels in northern Iraq. Ankara blames the PKK for the deaths of more than 30,000 people in Turkey since the group launched its armed campaign for an ethnic homeland in the impoverished southeast region in 1984.
Parliament, now in recess ahead of July 22 elections, would have to reconvene to authorise any military operation beyond Turkey's borders. Asked if the Foreign Ministry was readying documents for such a move, spokesman Levent Bilman told a news conference: "At this time there is no work on such an authorisation, but Turkey is ready for anything at any time."
The Turkish army has said its big buildup of troops and tanks near the border with Iraq is a routine seasonal operation intended to combat PKK rebels inside Turkey or trying to enter. On Monday, European Union officials visiting Ankara said they had discussed the media reports with their hosts but said Turkey gave no indication that an operation was being planned.
The United States and Iraq have both urged Turkey not to send troops, saying the problem could be best resolved by diplomatic means. They fear military action could destabilise the most peaceful and prosperous region of war-ravaged Iraq.
Bilman told the weekly news conference Ankara was not opposed to talks with Iraqi Kurdish authorities, but said they must show they are taking concrete steps against the PKK. "Turkey is not a country that has ever excluded dialogue. We need positive signals in order to be able to take steps on a dialogue. This means the launch of serious action against the PKK," Bilman said.
Turkey is furious with U.S. and Iraqi authorities for failing to crack down on the estimated 4,000 PKK rebels in northern Iraq. Ankara blames the PKK for the deaths of more than 30,000 people in Turkey since the group launched its armed campaign for an ethnic homeland in the impoverished southeast region in 1984.
Labels: Levent Bilman, northern Iraq, PKK, Turkey
