Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Head of Turkish army reaffirms N. Iraq incursion
Kurdistan, Turkey
(Reuters) - The head of Turkey's powerful armed forces reaffirmed on Wednesday his view that a cross-border operation into northern Iraq was needed to crush Kurdish rebels based there. His comments pile more pressure on Turkey's government to allow a military operation, just weeks before parliamentary polls in which security and terrorism issues will loom large.
The staunchly secular military dislikes the Islamist-rooted ruling AK Party and political analysts say the generals are trying to portray it as weak on terrorism. AK, which denies any Islamist agenda, is widely expected to win re-election in July.
"I have said (in April) that we need a cross-border operation and that this would bring benefits. I repeat this view now," General Yasar Buyukanit told a news conference shown live on Turkish television. But he stressed the need to act within the law in tackling the security threat.
Turkey's parliament, now in recess ahead of the July 22 elections, would have to reconvene to authorize any serious cross-border military operation. "We have to conduct our fight on a legal basis. We cannot go beyond the laws," he said in Isparta, southwest Turkey. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told Reuters last week that Ankara would take military action if necessary.
The staunchly secular military dislikes the Islamist-rooted ruling AK Party and political analysts say the generals are trying to portray it as weak on terrorism. AK, which denies any Islamist agenda, is widely expected to win re-election in July.
"I have said (in April) that we need a cross-border operation and that this would bring benefits. I repeat this view now," General Yasar Buyukanit told a news conference shown live on Turkish television. But he stressed the need to act within the law in tackling the security threat.
Turkey's parliament, now in recess ahead of the July 22 elections, would have to reconvene to authorize any serious cross-border military operation. "We have to conduct our fight on a legal basis. We cannot go beyond the laws," he said in Isparta, southwest Turkey. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told Reuters last week that Ankara would take military action if necessary.
Labels: AK Party, General Yasar Buyukanit, incursion, northern Iraq, PKK, Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Erdogan warns Barzani against interference in Turkey
Turkey, Kurdistan
(AP) - The prime minister on Monday warned Iraqi Kurds against interfering in southeastern Turkey, where the Kurdish majority is fighting Turkish security forces, saying "the price for them will be very high." Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was responding to Massoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdish autonomous region in Iraq, who said Iraqi Kurds would retaliate for any Turkish interference in northern Iraq by stirring up trouble in southeastern Turkey.
"He's out of place," Erdogan said of Barzani. "He'll be crushed under his words." The verbal sparring was set off by Barzani on Saturday when he said in an interview with al-Arabiyah television that Iraqi Kurds could "interfere" in Kurdish-majority Turkish cities if Ankara interfered in northern Iraq.
Turkey is especially concerned about Barzani's bid to incorporate the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk into his semiautonomous region, fearing that Iraqi Kurds will use revenues from the city's oil wealth to fund a bid for independence. The Foreign Ministry also sent a note to the Iraqi government "reminding them of their responsibilities on the subject of the fight against terror," government spokesman Cemil Cicek said.
"The source of the ethnic terrorism that is taking lives in Turkey is Iraq," Cicek said in a press conference following a Cabinet meeting, referring to Kurdish rebels (PKK) who hide and train in the mountainous region of northern Iraq. Later in the day, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, an ethnic Kurd, called Erdogan to allay his concerns, saying he was saddened by the rising tensions with Turkey, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.
Last week, the Iraqi government decided to implement a constitutional requirement to determine the status of Kirkuk, which is disputed among several different ethnic groups, by the end of the year. The plan is expected to turn Kirkuk and its vast oil reserves over to Kurdish control, a step rejected by many of Iraq's Arabs and its Turkmen, ethnic Turks who are strongly backed by the Turkish government. Some in Turkey have hinted at military action to prevent the Kurds from gaining control of Kirkuk.
"He's out of place," Erdogan said of Barzani. "He'll be crushed under his words." The verbal sparring was set off by Barzani on Saturday when he said in an interview with al-Arabiyah television that Iraqi Kurds could "interfere" in Kurdish-majority Turkish cities if Ankara interfered in northern Iraq.
Turkey is especially concerned about Barzani's bid to incorporate the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk into his semiautonomous region, fearing that Iraqi Kurds will use revenues from the city's oil wealth to fund a bid for independence. The Foreign Ministry also sent a note to the Iraqi government "reminding them of their responsibilities on the subject of the fight against terror," government spokesman Cemil Cicek said.
"The source of the ethnic terrorism that is taking lives in Turkey is Iraq," Cicek said in a press conference following a Cabinet meeting, referring to Kurdish rebels (PKK) who hide and train in the mountainous region of northern Iraq. Later in the day, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, an ethnic Kurd, called Erdogan to allay his concerns, saying he was saddened by the rising tensions with Turkey, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.
Last week, the Iraqi government decided to implement a constitutional requirement to determine the status of Kirkuk, which is disputed among several different ethnic groups, by the end of the year. The plan is expected to turn Kirkuk and its vast oil reserves over to Kurdish control, a step rejected by many of Iraq's Arabs and its Turkmen, ethnic Turks who are strongly backed by the Turkish government. Some in Turkey have hinted at military action to prevent the Kurds from gaining control of Kirkuk.
Labels: Article 140, Cemil Cicek, Jalal Talabani, Kirkuk, Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, PKK, Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Friday, March 30, 2007
Talabani invites Erdogan to send a delegation to carry out investigations in Kirkuk
Turkey, Iraq
(AINA) - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani discussed the controversial subject of Kirkuk during a meeting at the Arab League Summit in Riyadh, with Erdoğan seeming keen to accept Talabani's invitation to send a delegation to the oil-rich northern Iraqi city.
When Erdoğan explained to Talabani the discomfort that Turkey felt over events in Kirkuk, Talabani replied: "Is there a mistake that the Iraqis have made with regards to Kirkuk? Send a delegation, let them carry out investigations in Kirkuk. Let them look into whether the records of deeds have been erased. Let them carry out demographic studies. The base for these deeds is in Baghdad. Let Turkey's consulate in Mosul look into this." Erdoğan greeted Talabani's suggestion that a delegation be sent with pleasure, and has confirmed that Ankara will be "analyzing this and making a decision very soon."
During the Erdoğan-Talabani meeting, the Iraqi foreign minister and head of the Foreign Affairs Commission were also present. Erdoğan, who confirmed that his meeting with Talabani had gone well, had this to say: "Talabani told me 'We need Turkey. We cannot deny everything you have done for us. We have made some mistakes, but then, so have you.' They are particularly uncomfortable with the polemic that appears in the media. I reminded him that I had called him, as the prime minister of Turkey, while he was in the hospital."
Erdoğan also touched on Talabani's words regarding the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terror presence in northern Iraq, noting that Talabani had said, "We are against anyone who is against Turkey." Erdoğan also underlined that Talabani had said he was pleased with Turkey's new petroleum laws.
When Erdoğan explained to Talabani the discomfort that Turkey felt over events in Kirkuk, Talabani replied: "Is there a mistake that the Iraqis have made with regards to Kirkuk? Send a delegation, let them carry out investigations in Kirkuk. Let them look into whether the records of deeds have been erased. Let them carry out demographic studies. The base for these deeds is in Baghdad. Let Turkey's consulate in Mosul look into this." Erdoğan greeted Talabani's suggestion that a delegation be sent with pleasure, and has confirmed that Ankara will be "analyzing this and making a decision very soon."
During the Erdoğan-Talabani meeting, the Iraqi foreign minister and head of the Foreign Affairs Commission were also present. Erdoğan, who confirmed that his meeting with Talabani had gone well, had this to say: "Talabani told me 'We need Turkey. We cannot deny everything you have done for us. We have made some mistakes, but then, so have you.' They are particularly uncomfortable with the polemic that appears in the media. I reminded him that I had called him, as the prime minister of Turkey, while he was in the hospital."
Erdoğan also touched on Talabani's words regarding the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terror presence in northern Iraq, noting that Talabani had said, "We are against anyone who is against Turkey." Erdoğan also underlined that Talabani had said he was pleased with Turkey's new petroleum laws.
Labels: Jalal Talabani, Kirkuk, PKK, Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Friday, March 02, 2007
Turkey's PM and army general clash over Kurdish militants
Turkey, Kurdistan, Politics
(Reuters) Turkey's prime minister and top army general clashed over Iraq on Thursday in a growing row that underscores tensions between the government and the powerful military ahead of presidential elections due in May. During a recent trip to Washington, armed forces' chief Yasar Buyukanit accused Iraqi Kurdish leaders of helping Turkish Kurdish militants hiding in northern Iraq and said Turkey should avoid any contact with them.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government shares the army's concerns that Iraq's Kurds aim to set up an independent state and could fan separatism in Turkey's large Kurdish population. But Erdogan said in an interview with CNN Turk television broadcast on Thursday that the remarks were the "personal" views of Buyukanit, and asserted his government's right to determine Turkish foreign policy.
"(Buyukanit's words) could never be an institutional statement. If it were, it would sow chaos in our democratic, secular, law-based state," Erdogan said, making clear it is not for the generals to decide who Turkey speaks to. "The last word, institutionally speaking, lies with the government," Erdogan added. Later on Thursday however, the military General Staff issued a curt statement saying: "The views expressed by the head of the General Staff are naturally not personal views but those of the General Staff as an institution."
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government shares the army's concerns that Iraq's Kurds aim to set up an independent state and could fan separatism in Turkey's large Kurdish population. But Erdogan said in an interview with CNN Turk television broadcast on Thursday that the remarks were the "personal" views of Buyukanit, and asserted his government's right to determine Turkish foreign policy.
"(Buyukanit's words) could never be an institutional statement. If it were, it would sow chaos in our democratic, secular, law-based state," Erdogan said, making clear it is not for the generals to decide who Turkey speaks to. "The last word, institutionally speaking, lies with the government," Erdogan added. Later on Thursday however, the military General Staff issued a curt statement saying: "The views expressed by the head of the General Staff are naturally not personal views but those of the General Staff as an institution."
Labels: Kurds, Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey, Yasar Buyukanit
