Sunday, May 27, 2007

Iraq urges Turkey to resolve PKK issue politically


Above: PKK fighters near Iraq's border with Turkey.

Iraq urged its northern neighbour Turkey on Sunday to pursue diplomatic means as it attempts stop armed Kurdish separatists operating out of northern Iraq.

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih told reporters after meeting with a Turkish delegation in Baghdad that Iraq would not accept a breach of its sovereignty.

"We spoke about what are perceived to be security threats to Turkey coming from Iraqi territory. We emphasised the need of dealing with the perceived threats based on established channels between the governments of Iraq and Turkey," he said.

Turkish envoy Oguz Celikkol said a number of issues had been discussed, including Ankara's growing anger at recent violence it blames on the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The Turkish rebel group has thousands of fighters in the mountains of northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.

Read the rest at Reuters/Alternet

Related Link:
Turkish government says it would back military in any offensive in northern Iraq

Related Link:
Report: Turkish tanks carry out exercises at Iraq border

Related Link:
Analysis: The Turkish military weighs in

Related Link:
Turkey, Iraq bypass Kurds in oil deal

Related Link:
Opinion (David Ignatius): A New Threat In Iraq

Related Link:
Perspective: A waiting game in the mountains

Related Link:
Turkish general pushes for cross-border incursion into Iraq

Related Link:
Turkish Prime Minister warns Kurd President Barzani 'price... will be very high' if threats carried out

Related Link:
Kurd President Barzani: Kurds will 'intervene' in Turkey if it interferes in Kirkuk referendum

Related Link:
Maliki accepts resignation of Justice minister

Related Link:
Cabinet endorses forced repatriation of tens of thousands of Arabs from Kirkuk; Justice minister offers resignation in protest

Related Link:
Envoy: U.S. may has not ruled out military action against Kurdish rebels

Related Link:
Perspective: Iraqi Kurds fear a new war

Related Link:
Turkish general reasserts right to cross border to chase rebels in north Iraq

Related Link:
Turkey Wants Kirkuk Referendum Delayed

Related Link:
Arabs protest in Kirkuk over forced 'repatriation'

Related Link:
Iranian military threatens to cross into Iraq to pursue Kurdish fighters

Related Link:
Perspective: In northern Iraq, another war looms

Related Link:
Turkey's military, government clash over Iraq, Kurds

Related Link:
Perspective: Turkey weighs cross-border attack on PKK in Iraq

Related Link:
Perspective: From Iraqi mountains, Kurds train for battle with Iran

Related Link:
Perspective: Will Turkey attack in Iraq?

Related Link:
Turkish opposition leader: would back military action against Kurdish guerrillas in Iraq

Related Link:
Perspective: Oil-rich Kirkuk's ethnic time-bomb could explode at any time

Related Link:
Analysis: Iraq is already enduring two wars. Could it survive a third?