Turkish PM: US makes no concrete steps against PKK
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan severely criticized America's hesitation in taking measures against terrorism associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Stating the United States appointed a special envoy but has not taken action yet against the PKK in northern Iraq, Erdogan asked if these were delay tactics.
Erdogan pointed out U.S.-origin weapons were found with the terrorists arrested and said, “There has been no positive development in counterterrorism. We are waiting for concrete steps now, we cannot just watch events.”
The prime minister mentioned developments in Iraq, terming the timing and form of Saddam Hussein’s execution as a “provocation.”
He added coalition forces had difficulty in solving the problem, and that Turkey, Iran and Syria were ready for cooperation and a result could be obtained with the contribution of the United States.
Erdogan pointed out events disturbing Turkey take place in Iraq and complained about the terrorist network’s activities in the region.
Erdogan also emphasized establishing Iraq’s territorial and political unity and keeping Kirkuk’s private status was indispensable for Turkey.
“What disturb us most are the terror network’s activities is the U.S. appointed a special envoy but there is no concrete step. We could cooperate with the U.S. and Iraq in combating the terror network but this did not take place. They say they will stifle the terrorist organization’s financial resources. They say there are troubles in other areas and they cannot focus on northern Iraq. Are these delay tactics? We expect serious steps.”
When asked what he meant by serious steps, Erdogan said: “There are camps in the region and the terrorist network is holding activities there. U.S. officials say they closed several offices but we saw they did not. Terrorists enter Turkey and they have U.S.-origin weapons and bombs. We found these with the terrorists that were arrested. I openly said this to U.S. officials. I talked to US President George Bush on the phone after I came back from Riga. We said ‘Let us cooperate against terrorist networks disturbing us if we are strategic partners.’ They think we are right. If we are right, we should act accordingly.”
Concerning the developments in Iraq, Erdogan said the coalition forces have trouble in solving the problem and said neighboring countries may undertake a more active role for the solution.
“Iran and Syria can cooperate with us in this process. Iran says it can do it. We have a consensus with Syria as well. The United States can also contribute in this, what matters here is their decision,” Erdogan said.
Stating Turkey had an important role in the region, the prime minister said, “Countries in the region are having sectarian and ethnic problems. Turkey has no problem with any of these. We meet all of them whether Shiite, Sunni, Kurdish or Arab; we feel no hostility to any of them.”
Stating his visit to Lebanon was part of a Middle East tour, Erdogan said Turkey played a key role in Syria’s withdrawal of its 30,000 troops in Lebanon: “We requested Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to withdraw their troops from Lebanon. He said they would try to do so and do it because we requested it. Turkish President Sezer paid a visit to Syria and they withdrew their troops a week later.”
He also pointed out the form and timing of the execution of Iraq’s ousted leader Saddam Hussein was wrong.
“We are a country that abolished the death penalty, we cannot approve of it. Performing the execution on an Islamic holiday, broadcasting it and things that were said are all provocation. The region has delicate balances, there are sectarian clashes. 650,000 people were killed. Those who died are Muslims, but the coalition forces’ death toll does not even reach 5,000. Over 1.2 million people were killed in Iran-Iraq War. Why do we fall in the same trap? There are claims that the execution would be performed 15 days later but it was predated. This shows there is an authority gap,” Erdogan said.
Stating the United States appointed a special envoy but has not taken action yet against the PKK in northern Iraq, Erdogan asked if these were delay tactics.
Erdogan pointed out U.S.-origin weapons were found with the terrorists arrested and said, “There has been no positive development in counterterrorism. We are waiting for concrete steps now, we cannot just watch events.”
The prime minister mentioned developments in Iraq, terming the timing and form of Saddam Hussein’s execution as a “provocation.”
He added coalition forces had difficulty in solving the problem, and that Turkey, Iran and Syria were ready for cooperation and a result could be obtained with the contribution of the United States.
Erdogan pointed out events disturbing Turkey take place in Iraq and complained about the terrorist network’s activities in the region.
Erdogan also emphasized establishing Iraq’s territorial and political unity and keeping Kirkuk’s private status was indispensable for Turkey.
“What disturb us most are the terror network’s activities is the U.S. appointed a special envoy but there is no concrete step. We could cooperate with the U.S. and Iraq in combating the terror network but this did not take place. They say they will stifle the terrorist organization’s financial resources. They say there are troubles in other areas and they cannot focus on northern Iraq. Are these delay tactics? We expect serious steps.”
When asked what he meant by serious steps, Erdogan said: “There are camps in the region and the terrorist network is holding activities there. U.S. officials say they closed several offices but we saw they did not. Terrorists enter Turkey and they have U.S.-origin weapons and bombs. We found these with the terrorists that were arrested. I openly said this to U.S. officials. I talked to US President George Bush on the phone after I came back from Riga. We said ‘Let us cooperate against terrorist networks disturbing us if we are strategic partners.’ They think we are right. If we are right, we should act accordingly.”
Concerning the developments in Iraq, Erdogan said the coalition forces have trouble in solving the problem and said neighboring countries may undertake a more active role for the solution.
“Iran and Syria can cooperate with us in this process. Iran says it can do it. We have a consensus with Syria as well. The United States can also contribute in this, what matters here is their decision,” Erdogan said.
Stating Turkey had an important role in the region, the prime minister said, “Countries in the region are having sectarian and ethnic problems. Turkey has no problem with any of these. We meet all of them whether Shiite, Sunni, Kurdish or Arab; we feel no hostility to any of them.”
Stating his visit to Lebanon was part of a Middle East tour, Erdogan said Turkey played a key role in Syria’s withdrawal of its 30,000 troops in Lebanon: “We requested Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to withdraw their troops from Lebanon. He said they would try to do so and do it because we requested it. Turkish President Sezer paid a visit to Syria and they withdrew their troops a week later.”
He also pointed out the form and timing of the execution of Iraq’s ousted leader Saddam Hussein was wrong.
“We are a country that abolished the death penalty, we cannot approve of it. Performing the execution on an Islamic holiday, broadcasting it and things that were said are all provocation. The region has delicate balances, there are sectarian clashes. 650,000 people were killed. Those who died are Muslims, but the coalition forces’ death toll does not even reach 5,000. Over 1.2 million people were killed in Iran-Iraq War. Why do we fall in the same trap? There are claims that the execution would be performed 15 days later but it was predated. This shows there is an authority gap,” Erdogan said.
posted by Aydın UZUNBOY at
3:47 PM
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