Anti-PKK unit starts functionning in Arbil
A subcommittee established by Turkey, Iraq and the United States to crack down on the terrorist PKK organization, in northern Iraq has started to function in the Kurdish city of Arbil, the Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed yesterday.
“Several arrangements were made to allow a branch of the subcommittee to operate in Arbil in order to effectively work toward the elimination of the PKK,” Burak Özügergin, spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry told reporters in his weekly press conference.
Turkey, Iraq and the United States have agreed to establish a joint unit to eradicate the PKK in northern Iraq and to establish a central command center in Arbil. The main committee of the tripartite mechanism convenes every three months under the leadership of Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and the subcommittee meets every month with the participation of the chief of general staff’s officials, Özügergin said
Özügergin neither confirmed nor denied whether issuing a general amnesty to the PKK members was part of the measures to end PKK terrorism. “The measures for the eradication of the PKK were evaluated by the relevant institutions with integrity,” he said. He underlined that those measures were also conveyed to Iraq, the United States and European Union members.
On Washington’s demand of NATO allies to send more troops to Afghanistan, Özügergin said: “Ankara did not receive such a request.” He also denied that the United States sought to use Turkish bases for the withdrawal of their forces from Iraq. There were reports that alongside Kuwait and Jordan, the United States was planning to pull out some of its troops and equipment from Turkey.
France’s return to NATO
On the issue of France’s decision to return to NATO’s military wing, Özügergin said Paris had not yet officially applied to the organization. He said Ankara first wanted to see the method that would allow France’s return. “And then we’ll determine our own position,” he said.
Özügergin said France’s return to NATO would be important and it was only natural for Turkey to have a say in developments. “Turkey has always been one of the strongest members of the treaty. Thus we are part of the consultations on this issue,” he said.
U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell will hold talks with Turkish officials in Ankara this week as part of a regional tour, Özügergin said. Mitchell is expected in the Turkish capital late Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s planned talks with President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Ministry officials.
Source: Hurriyet
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