Articles About Terrorist Activities

Istanbul, Turkish Daily News 

A senior Iraqi Kurdish leader made controversial statements to an Italian newspaper that might inflame the budding diplomacy between Turkey and northern Iraq on the eve of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to the country, it was reported yesterday.

During a recent visit to Italy, the president of the Regional Kurdish Administration in northern Iraq, Massoud Barzani, told Italian newspaper Il Tempo that Kirkuk was a part of ‘Kurdistan’ and that the (outlawed) Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, were not terrorists, reported daily Milliyet yesterday.

In a statement on the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s Web site, Barzani reportedly told Il Tempo, “If the PKK refuses Turkey’s attempts to talk, then it can be classified as terrorist.”

Upon Il Tempo’s question on whether he was worried about Turkey using the PKK as an excuse to invade northern Iraq he said, “We fear no one. To invade our land is no different than a gamble that will plunge the whole region into crisis.”

He added, “Kurds have to adopt political struggle instead of armed struggle. The PKK is not a terrorist organization. If the PKK refuses Turkey’s attempts to talk, then it can be classified as terrorist. The Kurdistan territory has taken many important steps toward security. We need to work together as terrorism and extremism have no geographical boundaries. Thus, we need an international power to help facilitate cooperation,” he said, according to Milliyet.

PKK focal point of visit

Meanwhile, Erdoğan is expected to visit war-torn Iraq next week in his first visit to the nation since the toppling of Saddam Hussein, in a move to bolster ties between the two neighbors.

During his one-day visit Erdoğan is expected to meet his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki as well as President Jalal Talabani. Kurdish Alliance parliamentarian Dr. Mahmut Osman said on Kurdistan TV yesterday that Erdoğan would also be meeting with the prime minister of the regional government, Nachirvan Barzani.

The two prime ministers are expected to endorse a long-prepared document that will increase the frequency of relations to a very crucial level, creating interdependency between the two neighbors.

But for Turkey, the most important issue is more concrete cooperation against the outlawed PKK, which has been attacking Turkish civilian and military targets from its bases in northern Iraq. The fight against terror will be on the top of Erdoğan’s agenda, and he will seek more support from the central government.

Regarding the other controversial topic of Kirkuk, Barzani said, “Kirkuk is without a doubt a part of Kurdistan, but Kirkuk’s identity must be uncovered whilst respecting all who live there,” reported Milliyet. Barzani said they do not aim to jeopardize Iraq’s security and stability, adding that the decision on Kirkuk must be made by referendum.

Source : www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=108130