WASHINGTON'S TASK IS TO INVOLVE TURKEY IN TALKS WITH IRAQI KURDISTAN
By H. Chaqrian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/10/2007
October 29 was the Day of the Republic of Turkey. The festive
atmosphere was stained by the armed clashes with the PKK forces, mainly
taking place near mountain Joudy, and Dersim region. Although the
Turkish officials declare thast the forces of PKK have been trapped,
on October 29 the Turkish army lost 5 soldiers, and the previous day
4 soldiers were killed.
In October 27 publication "Azg" expressed opinion that Turkey has
become the hostage of its own initiative of armed invasion into
North Iraq. Yesterday the same opinion was expressed by "Eni Safak"
correspondent Ibrahim Karagul.
Evidently, even the authorities of Turkey have realized the fact of
becoming a self-hostage and are seeking to avoid military campaign in
Iraq. This notion is grounded by the talks that have started between
the USA, Iraq and Turkey.
Sooth to say, Turkey is failing the negotiations.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's demand to hand the three leaders of
PKK to the authorities of Turkey was categorically rejected by the
Iraqi side. Official Washington advised Ankara to settle the problems
with PKK in close cooperation with the authorities of Baghdad. In
the meanwhile the Turkish political circles are accusing the USA for
arming the Kurdish forces, instigating them for an assault on Turkey
and encouraging Iraq's confrontation with Turkey.
The aforementioned challenges, the unrest in the Kurdish-populated
regions of South-Eastern Turkey, and the ill-foreboding "advices" from
Washington made Turkey to withdraw the troops preparing to enter the
territory of Iraq. The EU and most of the countries of the region,
except Syria and Iran, are also against Turkey's invasion to Iraq,
therefore Turkey, in case of venturing an assault on "Kurdistan", will
face the resistance of the EU, the USA and its neighbor countries,
as well as PKK forces, reinforced by "pashmagars" and equipped with
American arms.
In this respect head of the Armed Forces of Turkey, Yasar Buyukanit,
who on the eve of the parliamentary elections was demanding to strike
at PKK as soon as possible, has now stated that the assault must be
postponed until the meeting of Prime Minister Erdogan and US President
George Bush in Washington.
Most probably, Bush will urge Erdogan to cooperate with Baghdad. The
latter shall press on the involvement of North Kurdistan's local
government bodies, and Masoud Barzanee shall demand to start
negotiations. Negotiating with Barzanee will mean the de-facto
recognition of sovereignty of Kurdistan, and Turkey shall refuse. This
will lead the process of settling the Kurdish problem to a dead end,
after which Turkey will have the only chance of provoking anti-Kurdish
hysteria among its citizens and the European states.
How can be explained Washington's demand to settle the problem of PKK
militant forces by the means of Trukey-Iraq cooperation? Evidently,
the reason is hidden in the US Government's plans of division of
Iraq. That is why Washington, neglecting the indignation of Ankara,
is handing the solution of PKK question to Baghdad, and the latter
- to the local government of North Iraq, Kurdistan district. The
Turkey-Iraq-Kurdistan negotiations shall first of all work for the
interests of the United States, therefore Turkey shall either be
forced to give way, or continue military operations. Otherwise,
Washington has no problem with destroying the PKK bases with the
forces of Bagdad or Kurdistan.
By H. Chaqrian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/10/2007
October 29 was the Day of the Republic of Turkey. The festive
atmosphere was stained by the armed clashes with the PKK forces, mainly
taking place near mountain Joudy, and Dersim region. Although the
Turkish officials declare thast the forces of PKK have been trapped,
on October 29 the Turkish army lost 5 soldiers, and the previous day
4 soldiers were killed.
In October 27 publication "Azg" expressed opinion that Turkey has
become the hostage of its own initiative of armed invasion into
North Iraq. Yesterday the same opinion was expressed by "Eni Safak"
correspondent Ibrahim Karagul.
Evidently, even the authorities of Turkey have realized the fact of
becoming a self-hostage and are seeking to avoid military campaign in
Iraq. This notion is grounded by the talks that have started between
the USA, Iraq and Turkey.
Sooth to say, Turkey is failing the negotiations.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's demand to hand the three leaders of
PKK to the authorities of Turkey was categorically rejected by the
Iraqi side. Official Washington advised Ankara to settle the problems
with PKK in close cooperation with the authorities of Baghdad. In
the meanwhile the Turkish political circles are accusing the USA for
arming the Kurdish forces, instigating them for an assault on Turkey
and encouraging Iraq's confrontation with Turkey.
The aforementioned challenges, the unrest in the Kurdish-populated
regions of South-Eastern Turkey, and the ill-foreboding "advices" from
Washington made Turkey to withdraw the troops preparing to enter the
territory of Iraq. The EU and most of the countries of the region,
except Syria and Iran, are also against Turkey's invasion to Iraq,
therefore Turkey, in case of venturing an assault on "Kurdistan", will
face the resistance of the EU, the USA and its neighbor countries,
as well as PKK forces, reinforced by "pashmagars" and equipped with
American arms.
In this respect head of the Armed Forces of Turkey, Yasar Buyukanit,
who on the eve of the parliamentary elections was demanding to strike
at PKK as soon as possible, has now stated that the assault must be
postponed until the meeting of Prime Minister Erdogan and US President
George Bush in Washington.
Most probably, Bush will urge Erdogan to cooperate with Baghdad. The
latter shall press on the involvement of North Kurdistan's local
government bodies, and Masoud Barzanee shall demand to start
negotiations. Negotiating with Barzanee will mean the de-facto
recognition of sovereignty of Kurdistan, and Turkey shall refuse. This
will lead the process of settling the Kurdish problem to a dead end,
after which Turkey will have the only chance of provoking anti-Kurdish
hysteria among its citizens and the European states.
How can be explained Washington's demand to settle the problem of PKK
militant forces by the means of Trukey-Iraq cooperation? Evidently,
the reason is hidden in the US Government's plans of division of
Iraq. That is why Washington, neglecting the indignation of Ankara,
is handing the solution of PKK question to Baghdad, and the latter
- to the local government of North Iraq, Kurdistan district. The
Turkey-Iraq-Kurdistan negotiations shall first of all work for the
interests of the United States, therefore Turkey shall either be
forced to give way, or continue military operations. Otherwise,
Washington has no problem with destroying the PKK bases with the
forces of Bagdad or Kurdistan.
