Turkish Premier Accuses Iraq’s Kurdish Leaders of Aiding, Abetting PKK

Text of report in English by Turkish news agency Anatolia

["THEY ARE ABETTING TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, ERDOGAN" - AA headline]

ANKARA (A.A) -30.10.2007 -Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday the regional administration in north of Iraq is aiding and abetting the terrorist organization PKK.

“Barzani (head of the regional administration in north of Iraq) should assume a clear attitude,” he told reporters during a reception at the Presidential Palace to mark the October 29 Republic Day.

Erdogan said, “they are abetting the terrorist organization in that region and what this means in international law is obvious.”

“Turkey’s interlocutor is the central government of Iraq, not Barzani. Therefore we are talking to Baghdad,” he told reporters.

On the other hand, Erdogan said there is no domestic peace in Iraq. “Iraq is not in peace within itself, how can it be in peace with its neighbours?”

Erdogan also said Turkey will use its rights stemming from international law as long as the terrorist organization infiltrate Turkey from north of Iraq.

“We will think a lot and then take action,” he commented on reporters’ remarks that “Turkey is about to launch a cross-border operation.”

Erdogan said there are not any new developments regarding eight soldiers who went missing after a terrorist attack in southeastern province of Hakkari. “But there can be some (developments) at any time.”

PM Erdogan also said the Council of Ministers will meet on Wednesday and discuss any possible measures regarding the Habur border crossing on Turkish-Iraqi border.

Originally published by Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 2109 30 Oct 07.

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