Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Turkish parliament may approve sending troops into n. Iraq
Region
(Al Jazeera) - Turkish government has agreed to ask parliament to approve sending troops into northern Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish separatist fighters. The motion, which is expected to be approved by MPs on Wednesday, would provide the legal basis for cross-border military action against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) during the next year. "Our wish is that we will not have to use this motion ... but the most painful reality of our country, our region, is the reality of terror," Cemil Cicek, government spokesman, said after a cabinet meeting on Monday.
He stressed that Turkey's sole target, if its troops entered northern Iraq, would be the estimated 3,000 PKK fighters believed to be in the region. The government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister, twice acquired similar authorisations from parliament in 2003, but did not act on them. In response, Baghdad urged Turkey to be "patient" and not to resort to military action. "The Iraqi government calls on the Turkish government to pursue a diplomatic solution and not a military solution to solve the [problem] of terrorist attacks which our dear neighbour Turkey has witnessed from the PKK," Ali al-Dabbagh, Iraqi government spokesman, said.
He stressed that Turkey's sole target, if its troops entered northern Iraq, would be the estimated 3,000 PKK fighters believed to be in the region. The government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister, twice acquired similar authorisations from parliament in 2003, but did not act on them. In response, Baghdad urged Turkey to be "patient" and not to resort to military action. "The Iraqi government calls on the Turkish government to pursue a diplomatic solution and not a military solution to solve the [problem] of terrorist attacks which our dear neighbour Turkey has witnessed from the PKK," Ali al-Dabbagh, Iraqi government spokesman, said.
Ahead of the cabinet's decision, a senior Turkish general said that it was too early to discuss the timing or size of a possible incursion."If this duty is assigned to us, we will look at the scale on which it will be carried out. It is not possible to say this right now," General Ergin Saygun, deputy chief of the general staff, said. Ankara says the PKK uses bases in northern Iraq to launch attacks inside Turkey, the latest of which killed 15 soldiers last week. Saygun dismissed suggestions that Nato's second-biggest army had only a limited window of opportunity to attack before winter conditions made such a move impossible.
"The season would be taken into consideration, and other needs as well .... But we cannot say that we'll go to Iraq if it doesn't snow or we won't go if it does," he said. Duran Kalkan, a senior commander in the PKK, said that the Turkish military would suffer a serious blow if it launched such an offensive. According to the pro-Kurdish Firat news agency, he said that Turkey would "be bogged down in a quagmire" in northern Iraq. Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel Hamid in northern Iraq said on Monday that the situation along the border was quite calm. "There was a night of intense shelling along the border on Saturday but for the last 24 hours it has been calm," she said.
"We all have an interest in a stable Iraq and a desire to see the PKK brought to justice" Gordon Johndroe, White House spokesman"We have been travelling backwards and forwards along the border and we have seen some minimal troops movements on the other side. "US officials said last week that there are about 60,000 Turkish troops along the country's southern border with Iraq, but the US military has not seen activity to suggest an imminent offensive.
"The season would be taken into consideration, and other needs as well .... But we cannot say that we'll go to Iraq if it doesn't snow or we won't go if it does," he said. Duran Kalkan, a senior commander in the PKK, said that the Turkish military would suffer a serious blow if it launched such an offensive. According to the pro-Kurdish Firat news agency, he said that Turkey would "be bogged down in a quagmire" in northern Iraq. Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel Hamid in northern Iraq said on Monday that the situation along the border was quite calm. "There was a night of intense shelling along the border on Saturday but for the last 24 hours it has been calm," she said.
"We all have an interest in a stable Iraq and a desire to see the PKK brought to justice" Gordon Johndroe, White House spokesman"We have been travelling backwards and forwards along the border and we have seen some minimal troops movements on the other side. "US officials said last week that there are about 60,000 Turkish troops along the country's southern border with Iraq, but the US military has not seen activity to suggest an imminent offensive.
On Monday, the US repeated its call for the Turkish military to refrain from crossing the border. "We all have an interest in a stable Iraq and a desire to see the PKK brought to justice," Gordon Johndroe, White House spokesman, said. "But we urge the Turks to continue their discussions with us and the Iraqis and to show restraint from any potentially destabilising actions."'
However, Erdogan had already said that international pressure would not deter Ankara. "The cost has already been calculated," he said. Ankara has also long complained that Washington has not done enough on its own or through the Iraqi government to crack down on the Kurdish separatists. The PKK, which is labelled as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, began an independence struggle in Turkey in 1984 that has left more than 37,000 people dead. Turkey and Iraq last month signed an accord pledging to combat the group, but failed to agree on a clause allowing Turkish troops to carry out "hot pursuit" operations against rebels fleeing into Iraqi territory, as they did regularly in the 1990s.
Labels: Ali al-Dabbagh, Cemil Cicek, Duran Kalkan, General Ergin Saygun, northern Iraq, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Friday, October 12, 2007
Turkish parliament may approve govt request on Iraq campaign
Region
(AP) - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that Turkey would not be deterred by the possible consequences of invading Iraq if it decides to stage a cross-border offensive against Kurdish rebels.
"If such an option is chosen, whatever its price, it will be paid," Erdogan told reporters in response to a question about international repercussions of such a decision, which would strain ties with the United States and Iraq. "There could be pros and cons of such a decision, but what is important is our country's interests."
A Turkish soldier was killed by a mine Thursday night on Mt. Gabar in southeastern Sirnak province, where 13 soldiers have been ambushed and killed over the past week, local authorities said. "We are making necessary preparations to be ready in case we decide on a cross-border operations since we don't have patience to lose more time," Erdogan said, adding that Turkey lost 30 people in rebel attacks over the past two weeks.
Erdogan said Turkey has long been seeking the cooperation of Iraq and the United States but there has been no crackdown on the rebel group of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in Iraq. "If there are terrorists sheltering and attacking Turkey from Iraqi soil and if they don't do anything then we should do something," Erdogan said.
The Turkish parliament was expected to approve a government request to authorize an Iraq campaign as early as next week, after a holiday ending the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. But that does not mean a risky incursion will follow at once. Turkey might give diplomacy, and perhaps economic pressure, more time to work even as public enthusiasm for a military mission mounts.
"If such an option is chosen, whatever its price, it will be paid," Erdogan told reporters in response to a question about international repercussions of such a decision, which would strain ties with the United States and Iraq. "There could be pros and cons of such a decision, but what is important is our country's interests."
A Turkish soldier was killed by a mine Thursday night on Mt. Gabar in southeastern Sirnak province, where 13 soldiers have been ambushed and killed over the past week, local authorities said. "We are making necessary preparations to be ready in case we decide on a cross-border operations since we don't have patience to lose more time," Erdogan said, adding that Turkey lost 30 people in rebel attacks over the past two weeks.
Erdogan said Turkey has long been seeking the cooperation of Iraq and the United States but there has been no crackdown on the rebel group of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in Iraq. "If there are terrorists sheltering and attacking Turkey from Iraqi soil and if they don't do anything then we should do something," Erdogan said.
The Turkish parliament was expected to approve a government request to authorize an Iraq campaign as early as next week, after a holiday ending the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. But that does not mean a risky incursion will follow at once. Turkey might give diplomacy, and perhaps economic pressure, more time to work even as public enthusiasm for a military mission mounts.
Labels: northern Iraq, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Turkey prepares for possible incursion into northern Iraq
Region
(Al Jazeera) - Turkey is preparing for a possible incursion into northern Iraq as the government says it is willing to take all necessary measures against Kurdish separatists it suspects of hiding there. The decision by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister, follows a series of deadly attacks by the rebel PKK group on Turkish security forces.
"To put an end to the terrorist organisation operating in the neighbouring country [Iraq], the order has been given to take every kind of measure, legal, economic, political, including also a cross-border operation if necessary," Erdogan's office said in a statement on Tuesday.
Kurdish rebels have killed 15 soldiers in separate attacks in the past two days. There is increasing anger in the country over the rebels' ability to find refuge in neighbouring Iraq. The military said on Sunday it had shelled an area near Iraq to try to stop PKK members from escaping across the border after an attack in the southeast province of Sirnak that killed 13 soldiers. However, residents in northern Iraq claim the Turkish shelling is landing well within their territory. Kurdish farmers displayed craters on Tuesday they said were left by artillery shells that hit close to the border.
Ankara has not confirmed any shelling of Iraqi territory. Local officials in the Iraqi Kurdish-run northern region, feared the shelling was a sign of more to come. In the city of Arbil, 350km north of Baghdad, the Kurdish governor warned Turkey on Tuesday that its troops would sustain heavy losses if they began operations in the region.
"To put an end to the terrorist organisation operating in the neighbouring country [Iraq], the order has been given to take every kind of measure, legal, economic, political, including also a cross-border operation if necessary," Erdogan's office said in a statement on Tuesday.
Kurdish rebels have killed 15 soldiers in separate attacks in the past two days. There is increasing anger in the country over the rebels' ability to find refuge in neighbouring Iraq. The military said on Sunday it had shelled an area near Iraq to try to stop PKK members from escaping across the border after an attack in the southeast province of Sirnak that killed 13 soldiers. However, residents in northern Iraq claim the Turkish shelling is landing well within their territory. Kurdish farmers displayed craters on Tuesday they said were left by artillery shells that hit close to the border.
Ankara has not confirmed any shelling of Iraqi territory. Local officials in the Iraqi Kurdish-run northern region, feared the shelling was a sign of more to come. In the city of Arbil, 350km north of Baghdad, the Kurdish governor warned Turkey on Tuesday that its troops would sustain heavy losses if they began operations in the region.
Nozad Hadi, the region's governor, said: "If the Turkish troops decided to enter into the Iraq's Kurdistan territories, their decision would be wrong and they would sustain heavy casualties and material losses." Turkey's parliament would have to authorise any large-scale military operation into Iraq, but troops could pursue rebels over the border in smaller, so-called "hot pursuit" operations without such authorisation.
The US said it supported Turkey and Iraq in their efforts to combat the PKK but warned against military incursions from Ankara. Al Jazeera's Yusuf Sharif in Ankara says Turkey is unlikely to send troops into its neighbour in the near future given that it is due to host a regional conference next month with Iraqi representatives among the attendees. Sharif also said that the government in Baghdad wants time for a recent security agreement signed with Turkey to take effect.
Yusuf Kanli from the Turkish Daily News said while there was public pressure on the Erdogan government to show it was able to deal effectively with PKK rebels it needed to differentiate between the group and the wider Kurdish issue. "You can not end this kind of terrorism through military action, there are other factors to consider such as political, and social elements that intermingle," he told Al Jazeera. "But Turkey can not in any way ignore the need to provide security for its country. They have to differentiate between PKK and the Kurdish problem."
Labels: northern Iraq, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Sirnak province, Turkey
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Al-Maliki declines full Turkey terrorism treaty
Regional
(Kurdistan Observer) - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki appears to have been ambushed by Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his visit to Ankara, when Erdogan suddenly presented him with a thoroughgoing counter-terrorism treaty to sign, pledging the Iraqi government to go after the PKK (Kurdish Workers Party), which it branded a terrorist organization.
Al-Maliki declined to sign that broad document. Instead, he signed a much narrower memorandum of understanding that he would attempt to expel the PKK from Iraq. He is said to have avoided calling the PKK a terrorist organization because his Kurdish allies nixed it. Al-Maliki is not in a position, politically speaking, to crack down hard on the PKK, several thousand of whose fighters are being given safe harbor by the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq.
Al-Maliki has been deserted by some of his former Shiite allies in parliament, including the Islamic Virtue Party (Fadhila), the Sadr Movement, and the secular Shiites of the Iraqi National List. He has also lost the Sunni Arab bloc, the Iraqi Accord Front. He would be open to failing a vote of no confidence without the backing of the Kurdistan Alliance. Therefore, he has to keep Massoud Barzani happy. He has no choice if he wants to go on being prime minister. And Barzani is the architect of the policy of giving the PKK a haven in Iraq.
The Turkish paper Sabah complained that al-Maliki had freely branded the PKK a terrorist organization when speaking to the press corps on board his plane to Ankara. But when suddenly faced with the prospect of signing a formal commitment that branded them as such, he turned evasive. The real achievement of the trip was probably the understandings reached on energy issues. If security can improve to the point where Iraqi petroleum and gas are exported via Turkey, Turkey can make billions off tolls. At the moment, pipeline sabotage has prevented much in the way of exports from the Kirkuk fields to the Mediterranean via Turkey.
Labels: counterterrorism pact, Nouri Al-Maliki, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Turkey, Iraq sign counterterrorism pact against PKK
Regional
(Washington Post) - Turkey and Iraq agreed Tuesday to work together to halt cross-border attacks being staged by Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq. Turkey has vowed to send its forces into northern Iraq unless Iraq's government or the United States curbs the activities of the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party. The group seeks greater autonomy for the mostly Kurdish enclaves in southeastern Turkey. On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, signed a counterterrorism pact that forces Iraq to commit itself to tackling the rebels.
"We have reached an agreement to spend all efforts to end the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in Iraq," Erdogan said at a joint news conference with Maliki. But Maliki stressed that Iraq's parliament would have the final say on any actions taken to root out the rebels.
"We have reached an agreement to spend all efforts to end the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in Iraq," Erdogan said at a joint news conference with Maliki. But Maliki stressed that Iraq's parliament would have the final say on any actions taken to root out the rebels.
Labels: counterterrorism pact, Iraq, Nouri Al-Maliki, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Power stations agreed on in Turkish-Iraqi talks but not security
Regional
(AINA) - Turkey and Iraq were locked in talks on Tuesday to try to resolve their differences over alleged terrorist bases near their joint border. The talks were the centre point of a visit to Ankara by Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, that was dominated by security and trade issues. Turkey has long maintained that militants from the PKK Kurdish separatist organisation hide out in the Kandil mountains in northern Iraq and launch attacks from there into Turkish territory. Ankara has been pressing Baghdad and the US to act against the PKK or face an incursion by Turkish troops.
Relations between Turkey and Iraq, and between Turkey and the US, have been badly strained by the issue, and the Turkish military has been agitating in recent months for permission from the government to launch an attack into Iraq to target the bases. Ankara also fears a resurgence of the latent separatism of Turkey's sizeable Kurdish minority.
Relations between Turkey and Iraq, and between Turkey and the US, have been badly strained by the issue, and the Turkish military has been agitating in recent months for permission from the government to launch an attack into Iraq to target the bases. Ankara also fears a resurgence of the latent separatism of Turkey's sizeable Kurdish minority.
Turkey strongly opposed the Iraq war. In 2003, the Turkish parliament voted against allowing US troops to open a northern front through Turkey during the invasion to oust Saddam Hussein. Since then, anti-US sentiment in Turkey has risen sharply amid dismay at the chaos now gripping Iraq and at what many Turks see as an increased threat of separatism.
The Turkish general staff has deployed about 100,000 troops on the border with Iraq in recent weeks and is restricting the movement of people and goods in parts of three southeastern provinces in its attempt to capture or kill suspected PKK guerrilla fighters. There have been several small-scale incursions into northern Iraq by units of the Turkish armed forces but US opposition and the distractions of a Turkish general election have, thus far, prevented a wider operation.
About 80 members of the Turkish security forces have been killed in PKK attacks this year. The latest casualty came early on Tuesday, when an officer was killed as his vehicle hit a land mine near Yuksekova, not far from the Iraqi border. Southeastern Turkey is predominantly Kurdish and many people in remote areas support the PKK, which has in the past urged Kurds to secede from Turkey.
Mr Maliki said after arriving in Ankara on Tuesday that "security co-operation is one of the most important issues" on the agenda of his meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister. Their talks lasted longer than planned. No statement had been issued by early evening on the security aspects of their talks. However, Hilmi Guler, Turkey's energy minister, said the two governments had reached an agreement to co-operate in building two power stations -- one in Turkey and one in Iraq -- and to work together on upgrading their electricity links and on oil exploration.
The Turkish general staff has deployed about 100,000 troops on the border with Iraq in recent weeks and is restricting the movement of people and goods in parts of three southeastern provinces in its attempt to capture or kill suspected PKK guerrilla fighters. There have been several small-scale incursions into northern Iraq by units of the Turkish armed forces but US opposition and the distractions of a Turkish general election have, thus far, prevented a wider operation.
About 80 members of the Turkish security forces have been killed in PKK attacks this year. The latest casualty came early on Tuesday, when an officer was killed as his vehicle hit a land mine near Yuksekova, not far from the Iraqi border. Southeastern Turkey is predominantly Kurdish and many people in remote areas support the PKK, which has in the past urged Kurds to secede from Turkey.
Mr Maliki said after arriving in Ankara on Tuesday that "security co-operation is one of the most important issues" on the agenda of his meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister. Their talks lasted longer than planned. No statement had been issued by early evening on the security aspects of their talks. However, Hilmi Guler, Turkey's energy minister, said the two governments had reached an agreement to co-operate in building two power stations -- one in Turkey and one in Iraq -- and to work together on upgrading their electricity links and on oil exploration.
Labels: Hilmi Guler, Kandil mountains, Nouri Al-Maliki, PKK, power stations, Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Al-Maliki in Turkey - insists Iraq isn't supporting PKK
Regional
(AP) - Kurdish guerrillas killed a Turkish lieutenant in the southeast on Tuesday, as the Iraqi prime minister arrived for a visit likely to be dominated by Turkish warnings to either crack down on rebel bases in northern Iraq or face a possible incursion. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki insisted that his government was not supporting the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.
"Our visit is an effort to develop bilateral relations and cooperation with Turkey, especially regarding the security file, which is the most important one," he told The Associated Press in an interview on his plane before landing in Ankara. "The PKK is an illegal terrorist organization, and the Turks are accusing them of terrorism. We don't allow for any terrorist organization on our soil," he said. "We want good relations with our neighbor, Turkey, and we should not interfere in each other's internal affairs."
Al-Maliki was greeted at the airport in Ankara by Turkey's Trade Minister Kursad Tuzmen. The Iraqi delegation included Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and some Iraqi legislators. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was expected to warn al-Maliki against allowing the PKK rebels to shelter in Iraq. Turkey has threatened to stage a cross-border offensive to eradicate the Kurdish rebel bases if Iraq or the United States do not act against the rebels.
Al-Maliki will likely seek to dissuade Turkey from launching an incursion. Turkey's patience with the decades-old rebel conflict has been running thin amid escalated fighting that has left around 80 Turkish soldiers dead so far this year. On Tuesday, Turkish generals were gathering for the funeral of a noncommissioned officer, also killed by rebels.
"Our visit is an effort to develop bilateral relations and cooperation with Turkey, especially regarding the security file, which is the most important one," he told The Associated Press in an interview on his plane before landing in Ankara. "The PKK is an illegal terrorist organization, and the Turks are accusing them of terrorism. We don't allow for any terrorist organization on our soil," he said. "We want good relations with our neighbor, Turkey, and we should not interfere in each other's internal affairs."
Al-Maliki was greeted at the airport in Ankara by Turkey's Trade Minister Kursad Tuzmen. The Iraqi delegation included Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and some Iraqi legislators. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was expected to warn al-Maliki against allowing the PKK rebels to shelter in Iraq. Turkey has threatened to stage a cross-border offensive to eradicate the Kurdish rebel bases if Iraq or the United States do not act against the rebels.
Al-Maliki will likely seek to dissuade Turkey from launching an incursion. Turkey's patience with the decades-old rebel conflict has been running thin amid escalated fighting that has left around 80 Turkish soldiers dead so far this year. On Tuesday, Turkish generals were gathering for the funeral of a noncommissioned officer, also killed by rebels.
Al-Maliki planned to visit Iran on Wednesday.
Labels: Hoshyar Zibari, Hussain al-Shahristani, Kursad Tuzmen, Nouri Al-Maliki, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Monday, July 30, 2007
Al-Maliki to visit Turkey
Regional
(AP) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will visit Turkey next month to discuss security issues as the Turkish government weighs a possible offensive into northern Iraq to thwart Kurdish separatists. Al-Maliki will travel to the Turkish capital Ankara in the second week of August, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Saturday. He declined to give a more specific date for security reasons.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued the invitation to al-Maliki earlier this month and warned of an incursion if the United States and Iraqi leaders failed to stem the Kurdish guerrillas operating from bases in northern Iraq. Erdogan's party won a new mandate last Sunday, but it faces pressure from opposition parties that say it lacks determination to stage an incursion, a move that could seriously strain ties with Iraq and Turkey's NATO ally, the United States.
"This visit will be a security and political one as there are many important issues between the two neighboring countries like the presence of PKK in northern Iraq," al-Dabbagh said, referring to the acronym for the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party.
"The Iraqi government is keen to develop bilateral relations after the elections and is looking forward to have Turkey as an important partner to Iraq," he added. Turkey has been fighting PKK rebels since 1984 in a war that has killed tens of thousands.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued the invitation to al-Maliki earlier this month and warned of an incursion if the United States and Iraqi leaders failed to stem the Kurdish guerrillas operating from bases in northern Iraq. Erdogan's party won a new mandate last Sunday, but it faces pressure from opposition parties that say it lacks determination to stage an incursion, a move that could seriously strain ties with Iraq and Turkey's NATO ally, the United States.
"This visit will be a security and political one as there are many important issues between the two neighboring countries like the presence of PKK in northern Iraq," al-Dabbagh said, referring to the acronym for the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party.
"The Iraqi government is keen to develop bilateral relations after the elections and is looking forward to have Turkey as an important partner to Iraq," he added. Turkey has been fighting PKK rebels since 1984 in a war that has killed tens of thousands.
Labels: Ali al-Dabbagh, Nouri Al-Maliki, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Monday, July 23, 2007
PKK leader readies troops as he believes Turkey will attack
Regional
(AP) -- The commander of Iraq-based Kurdish rebels said he believed Turkey will quickly follow its parliamentary elections Sunday with a long-anticipated offensive against his remote mountain bases. Murat Karayilan, the leader of the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, warned that his fighters were prepared for battle, but denied Ankara's charges that his group was using Iraqi soil to launch attacks against Turkish forces across the border.
"The date of the Turkish offensive has drawn near," Karayilan told The Associated Press in an interview Friday at his base in the remote northern Iraqi village of Lewzhe. "We are ready to confront it and to defend ourselves. The Turkish army cannot move with ease in this mountainous terrain." Turkey has been fighting PKK rebels since 1984 in a war that has killed tens of thousands.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose party won a new mandate Sunday, has threatened to stage an incursion into northern Iraq if post-election talks with Iraq and the United States fail to produce effective measures against the Kurdish guerrillas. Erdogan told jubilant supporters in a victory speech in Ankara that: "In our struggle against separatist terrorists, we are determined to take every step at the right time."
Opposition parties have criticized his ruling party for not showing determination to stage an incursion, a move that could seriously strain ties with Iraq and Turkey's NATO ally, the United States. The United States, facing problems elsewhere in Iraq, opposes such a move, but Turkey, frustrated by escalating rebel violence, says Washington has reneged on promises to help it fight terrorism.
Karayilan said that the autonomous Kurdish government in Iraq was not supporting his group. He described his group's bases in northern Iraq as primarily political indoctrination centers. An AP reporter, however, saw PKK guerrillas training on the use of light arms and doing endurance drills in full combat gear as he made his way to Lewzhe.
"The date of the Turkish offensive has drawn near," Karayilan told The Associated Press in an interview Friday at his base in the remote northern Iraqi village of Lewzhe. "We are ready to confront it and to defend ourselves. The Turkish army cannot move with ease in this mountainous terrain." Turkey has been fighting PKK rebels since 1984 in a war that has killed tens of thousands.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose party won a new mandate Sunday, has threatened to stage an incursion into northern Iraq if post-election talks with Iraq and the United States fail to produce effective measures against the Kurdish guerrillas. Erdogan told jubilant supporters in a victory speech in Ankara that: "In our struggle against separatist terrorists, we are determined to take every step at the right time."
Opposition parties have criticized his ruling party for not showing determination to stage an incursion, a move that could seriously strain ties with Iraq and Turkey's NATO ally, the United States. The United States, facing problems elsewhere in Iraq, opposes such a move, but Turkey, frustrated by escalating rebel violence, says Washington has reneged on promises to help it fight terrorism.
Karayilan said that the autonomous Kurdish government in Iraq was not supporting his group. He described his group's bases in northern Iraq as primarily political indoctrination centers. An AP reporter, however, saw PKK guerrillas training on the use of light arms and doing endurance drills in full combat gear as he made his way to Lewzhe.
Labels: Lewzhe, Murat Karayilan, northern Iraq, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Turkish top general ready for northern Iraq strike
Region
(AP) - Turkey's top general said Thursday the military was ready to stage a cross-border offensive to fight Kurdish guerrillas in Iraq and that he already had sought government approval to mount military action. Earlier Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has pledged his support for any military decision to stage an incursion into Iraq, said the army had not yet asked parliament for permission.
But Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said he had asked for approval during a news conference on April 12, when he said "an operation into Iraq is necessary." "We have told both Turkey and the world on April 12 that as soldiers, we are ready," Buyukanit said Thursday. Buyukanit's remarks appeared to put Erdogan's government under pressure to seek approval from parliament to send soldiers into Iraq to fight separatist Kurdish guerrillas. The rebels have long used northern Iraq as a base in their campaign for self-rule in southeast Turkey.
The United States opposes any unilateral Turkish military action, fearing it could destabilize northern Iraq - the calmest part of the country. Massoud Barzani, the leader of the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, also strongly opposes a Turkish incursion and has threatened to confront Turkish soldiers if they enter northern Iraq.
Military trucks hauled more tanks and guns to the border area Thursday, local reporters said. For weeks, TV stations have broadcast images of military trucks rumbling along the remote border, and trains transferring tanks and guns to bolster an already formidable force in the area.
But Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said he had asked for approval during a news conference on April 12, when he said "an operation into Iraq is necessary." "We have told both Turkey and the world on April 12 that as soldiers, we are ready," Buyukanit said Thursday. Buyukanit's remarks appeared to put Erdogan's government under pressure to seek approval from parliament to send soldiers into Iraq to fight separatist Kurdish guerrillas. The rebels have long used northern Iraq as a base in their campaign for self-rule in southeast Turkey.
The United States opposes any unilateral Turkish military action, fearing it could destabilize northern Iraq - the calmest part of the country. Massoud Barzani, the leader of the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, also strongly opposes a Turkish incursion and has threatened to confront Turkish soldiers if they enter northern Iraq.
Military trucks hauled more tanks and guns to the border area Thursday, local reporters said. For weeks, TV stations have broadcast images of military trucks rumbling along the remote border, and trains transferring tanks and guns to bolster an already formidable force in the area.
Labels: Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Turkish reinforcement soldiers and equipment sent to northern Iraq - Turkish border
Security, Region
(AP) - Turkey has sent large contingents of reinforcement soldiers, tanks and armored personnel carriers to its border with Iraq as debate heated up over whether to stage a cross-border offensive to hit Kurdish rebel bases. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday urged the United States and Iraq to destroy bases of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in northern Iraq as Turkish military deployed more tanks and soldiers on the border.
The images of military trucks rumbling along the remote border with Iraq's Kurdish zone and tanks being transferred on trains and trucks to beef up an already formidable force there have occupied television screens and front pages of several newspapers in the last few weeks. The Turkish military has said it routinely reinforces the border with Iraq in the summer to prevent infiltrations by the guerrillas.
"The PKK must be eliminated as a problem between Iraq and Turkey," Turkey's special envoy to Iraq, Oguz Celikkol, told CNN-Turk television on Wednesday before a visit to Iraq to discuss Turkish demands that Iraq and U.S. forces crack down on the group. Asked whether Turkey could take unilateral action, Celikkol said: "Our expectation is that this issue is resolved before it comes to that point." Erdogan said a cross-border Turkish operation was not off the table. "The target is to achieve results. Our patience has run out. The necessary steps will be taken when needed," Erdogan said.
The Turkish military says up to 3,800 rebels are now based across the border in Iraq and that up to 2,300 operate inside Turkey. Iraqi Kurdish groups have threatened to resist a Turkish incursion. "All the explosives used by the PKK in Turkey are traced back to Iraq," Celikkol said. Turkish troops say they have killed 10 guerrillas in the country's southeast since Monday.
The images of military trucks rumbling along the remote border with Iraq's Kurdish zone and tanks being transferred on trains and trucks to beef up an already formidable force there have occupied television screens and front pages of several newspapers in the last few weeks. The Turkish military has said it routinely reinforces the border with Iraq in the summer to prevent infiltrations by the guerrillas.
"The PKK must be eliminated as a problem between Iraq and Turkey," Turkey's special envoy to Iraq, Oguz Celikkol, told CNN-Turk television on Wednesday before a visit to Iraq to discuss Turkish demands that Iraq and U.S. forces crack down on the group. Asked whether Turkey could take unilateral action, Celikkol said: "Our expectation is that this issue is resolved before it comes to that point." Erdogan said a cross-border Turkish operation was not off the table. "The target is to achieve results. Our patience has run out. The necessary steps will be taken when needed," Erdogan said.
The Turkish military says up to 3,800 rebels are now based across the border in Iraq and that up to 2,300 operate inside Turkey. Iraqi Kurdish groups have threatened to resist a Turkish incursion. "All the explosives used by the PKK in Turkey are traced back to Iraq," Celikkol said. Turkish troops say they have killed 10 guerrillas in the country's southeast since Monday.
Labels: Kurdistan, Oguz Celikkol, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Friday, May 25, 2007
Turkey violates Kurdish airspace
Security, Kurdistan, Turkey
(Voices of Iraq) - A military source from Iraq's Kurdistan region said on Thursday two Turkish warplanes violated Iraqi northern Kurdistan airspace near the borders with Turkey. "Two Turkish warplanes violated today the Kurdistan region airspace for a distance of ten kilometers inside the Iraqi territories," the source, who asked not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The warplanes flew over Kurdish villages west of Zakho, the source added. Meanwhile, local residents from villages on the borders with Turkey told VOI "12 artillery shells were fired from the Turkish territories onto the villages of Nazador and Gali Bazagha with no reports of casualties." Duhuk, third province within Kurdistan region, is in the farthest north of Iraq and it has borders with Turkey and Syria.
The warplanes flew over Kurdish villages west of Zakho, the source added. Meanwhile, local residents from villages on the borders with Turkey told VOI "12 artillery shells were fired from the Turkish territories onto the villages of Nazador and Gali Bazagha with no reports of casualties." Duhuk, third province within Kurdistan region, is in the farthest north of Iraq and it has borders with Turkey and Syria.
(Stratfor) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would support Turkey's generals if they chose to attack Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq in retaliation for the May 22 suicide bombing in Ankara. The Kurdistan Workers' Party has denied responsibility for the blast. Erdogan also said the United States should do more to crack down on Kurdish separatists in Iraq.
COMMENT: Previously Turkey's military command and politicians have been divided on attacking Kurdistan to pursue the PKK, with the military pushing for an attack and the politicians prefering a more diplomatic approach. The chances of Turkey attacking will rise now that the two sides are (temporarily) united. Also, the politicians had to be seen to be doing something following the Ankara bombing. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Ankara, bombings, Kurdistan, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish warplanes, Zakhu
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Talabani - Kirkuk issue to be solved according to Iraqi constitution
Politics
(VOI) – Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said that the Kirkuk issue will be solved according to the Iraqi constitution, considering Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be one of the best leaders to deal with the cause. "The Kirkuk issue will be solved according to the constitution," the president said at a press conference upon his arrival at the Sulaimaniya International Airport on Wednesday, referring to a statement made by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who said that "we should normalize the situation in Kirkuk before carrying out a referendum.
"The province of Kirkuk, 250 km northeast of Baghdad, is home to Kurds, Arabs, Turkmans and ChaldoAssyrians, and is one of the most heated topics on the Iraqi political scene. The province is waiting for the establishment of procedures to normalize the situation through implementation of article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, returning displaced Arabs to their homes and offering them 20 million dinars in compensation. A census will follow the referendum, during which the people of Kirkuk will decide whether to stay part of the Iraqi federal government or to join Iraq's Kurdistan region.
"We expect that the Sharm el-Sheikh conference will provide us with economic and political support and strongly condemn terrorism," the president said in response to a question from a correspondent from the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). Regarding the building of a concrete wall in Azamiya in Baghdad, the president said "I'm against building barriers." Talabani, who is also the head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), arrived in Iraq at 2:00 pm on Wednesday.
Labels: Article 140, Iraqi constitution, Jalal Talabani, Kirkuk, Kirkuk referendum, Kurdistan, Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Turkish leaders angry at Iraq security conference venue change
Turkey
(Kurdistan Observer) - The current anger against the Iraqi Kurdish leaders came to a boiling point in the Turkish capital with the delayed airing of a Massoud Barzani interview in Al Arabiya but the real source of Ankara's furor was the belief that it was the Kurdish opposition to hold the conference of Iraq's neighbors in Istanbul that was regarded as a heavy blow to Turkish diplomacy and prestige. Sources close to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed the Iraqi Kurds for failing to keep their promise to help host the meeting in Istanbul.
Erdogan had met Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, also a leading Kurd, at the Arab summit in Riyadh. The announcement by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that the meeting will be held in Cairo at the start of May shocked Ankara. Turkish leaders said they were under pressure from some regional countries to boycott the meeting. Turkish leaders feel hosting the meeting in Istanbul was a matter of diplomatic prestige as Turkey had done all the ground work for such a conference which would bring the foreign ministers of the United States, Syria and Iran at the same table for the first time.
Iraqi Kurdish sources in Baghdad said the Iraqi presidential council led by Talabani had nothing to do with the Cairo decision and it was essentially a cabinet decision to host the meeting in the Egyptian capital. A preparatory meeting for the conference was held in Baghdad. The New Anatolian was told Kurds voted in favor of Istanbul but the Arabs represented in the cabinet felt Cairo would be a better venue because they wanted to follow up the results of the Arab summit in Riyadh in another prominent Arab capital.
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Barham Saleh reportedly favored Istanbul. Sources close to Al Maliki said the Shiite leadership is angry that Ankara has hosted Sunni Arab delegations in recent months much to their opposition. The New Anatolian was told Al Maliki frequently voices this anger at every possible occasion.
Labels: Cairo, Iraq security conference, Kurdistan, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Turkish Army to deliver 'pinpoint' strikes against PKK bases
Security, Turkey
(AINA) - The Turkish military may start a three-month transborder operation against Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq, the weekly Tempo quoted the Army chief of staff as saying Friday. Gen. Yasr Buyukanit said Thursday it was necessary to carry out a military operation against Kurdish insurgents in northern Iraq.
He said the Turkish Army was currently conducting large-scale operations in different parts of southeast Turkey against the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), adding 13 Turkish servicemen had been killed in action against the separatists so far this year. According to the weekly, the Turkish Army is not planning to conduct large-scale operations in northern Iraq, but will deliver "pinpoint strikes" against PKK bases.
"Troops will be airlifted to operation areas for a day and after effectively engaging pre-planned targets, will be airlifted back to base," it said. The paper quoted sources in the Democratic Party of Kurdistan and military experts as saying that in the lead-up to the operation, the Turkish Army is planning to establish a "buffer zone" along the border with Iraq to prevent infiltration of Kurdish militants into Turkey.
A similar zone is to be set up on Iraqi territory. "An operation in North Iraq is imperative. It requires political will," General Yasr Buyukanit said Thursday, adding the Turkish Army had evidence the PKK plans to intensify terrorist activity in Turkey. He said terrorism is one of the principal threats to Turkey.
The Turkish chief of staff denied reports that a group of senior Army officers were plotting to overthrow the Tayyip Erdogan government. "We have no evidence confirming the media reports [about an imminent coup]," he said. Prime Minister Erdogan said Ankara insisted Iraq meet its demand to crack down on the Kurdish separatists based in northern Iraq.
The speakers of both the Iraqi Parliament and Iraq's Kurdistan assembly described a call by Turkey's top general for a cross-border military operation as a "dangerous escalation," warning Ankara against interfering in the country's affairs. The warning came as the European Commission urged Turkey and Iraq to settle differences peacefully.
He said the Turkish Army was currently conducting large-scale operations in different parts of southeast Turkey against the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), adding 13 Turkish servicemen had been killed in action against the separatists so far this year. According to the weekly, the Turkish Army is not planning to conduct large-scale operations in northern Iraq, but will deliver "pinpoint strikes" against PKK bases.
"Troops will be airlifted to operation areas for a day and after effectively engaging pre-planned targets, will be airlifted back to base," it said. The paper quoted sources in the Democratic Party of Kurdistan and military experts as saying that in the lead-up to the operation, the Turkish Army is planning to establish a "buffer zone" along the border with Iraq to prevent infiltration of Kurdish militants into Turkey.
A similar zone is to be set up on Iraqi territory. "An operation in North Iraq is imperative. It requires political will," General Yasr Buyukanit said Thursday, adding the Turkish Army had evidence the PKK plans to intensify terrorist activity in Turkey. He said terrorism is one of the principal threats to Turkey.
The Turkish chief of staff denied reports that a group of senior Army officers were plotting to overthrow the Tayyip Erdogan government. "We have no evidence confirming the media reports [about an imminent coup]," he said. Prime Minister Erdogan said Ankara insisted Iraq meet its demand to crack down on the Kurdish separatists based in northern Iraq.
The speakers of both the Iraqi Parliament and Iraq's Kurdistan assembly described a call by Turkey's top general for a cross-border military operation as a "dangerous escalation," warning Ankara against interfering in the country's affairs. The warning came as the European Commission urged Turkey and Iraq to settle differences peacefully.
Labels: EU, Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Iraqi parliament, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Friday, April 13, 2007
Turkish general pushes for approval for northern Iraq incursion
Security, Turkey
(AP) - Turkey's military, which began staging several "large-scale" attacks on separatist Kurdish rebels in the country's southeast, asked the government Thursday for approval to launch a cross-border incursion into northern Iraq. "An operation into Iraq is necessary," Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said, pushing for permission to raid northern Iraq to fight Kurdish guerrillas despite strong opposition from the United States and Iraq against such unilateral action.
The call raises the pressure on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take a harder line against Kurdish guerrillas and against the Kurdish leadership in northern Iraq, where the rebels are based and train. Buyukanit said the military already was moving against separatists in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeastern region bordering Iraq.
"There are several large-scale operations under way in several areas," Buyukanit told reporters. "Our aim is to prevent them from taking positions in the region with the coming of spring." He said the rebels generally intensify their attacks on Turkey as the snow melts, opening up mountain passes. Clashes already have killed 10 soldiers and 29 Kurdish guerrillas in recent fighting, Buyukanit said. The separatist conflict has left more than 37,000 people dead since 1984.
On Monday, the Turkish government demanded that U.S. and Iraqi officials crack down on guerrillas from the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, running their rebellion from hideouts in the predominantly Kurdish region of northern Iraq. "The PKK has huge freedom of movement in Iraq," Buyukanit said. "It has spread its roots in Iraq."
But Iraq's government is barely able to control its own cities. U.S. commanders, who are battling the Iraqi insurgency in the middle of the country, are stretched too thin to take on Turkish Kurds hiding in remote mountains near the frontier. Washington repeatedly has cautioned Turkey against staging a cross-border offensive, fearing that it could destabilize the region and antagonize Iraqi Kurds, who are allied with the U.S. However, Turkey has asserted its right to stage a cross-border offensive if Iraqi officials fail to clamp down on the guerrillas.
The call raises the pressure on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to take a harder line against Kurdish guerrillas and against the Kurdish leadership in northern Iraq, where the rebels are based and train. Buyukanit said the military already was moving against separatists in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeastern region bordering Iraq.
"There are several large-scale operations under way in several areas," Buyukanit told reporters. "Our aim is to prevent them from taking positions in the region with the coming of spring." He said the rebels generally intensify their attacks on Turkey as the snow melts, opening up mountain passes. Clashes already have killed 10 soldiers and 29 Kurdish guerrillas in recent fighting, Buyukanit said. The separatist conflict has left more than 37,000 people dead since 1984.
On Monday, the Turkish government demanded that U.S. and Iraqi officials crack down on guerrillas from the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, running their rebellion from hideouts in the predominantly Kurdish region of northern Iraq. "The PKK has huge freedom of movement in Iraq," Buyukanit said. "It has spread its roots in Iraq."
But Iraq's government is barely able to control its own cities. U.S. commanders, who are battling the Iraqi insurgency in the middle of the country, are stretched too thin to take on Turkish Kurds hiding in remote mountains near the frontier. Washington repeatedly has cautioned Turkey against staging a cross-border offensive, fearing that it could destabilize the region and antagonize Iraqi Kurds, who are allied with the U.S. However, Turkey has asserted its right to stage a cross-border offensive if Iraqi officials fail to clamp down on the guerrillas.
Labels: Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Kurdistan, Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
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
