October 26, 2007

Iraqi & Turkish Officials Continue Diplomatic Talks On PKK Crisis

Diplomatic efforts to mend a rift between the governments of Iraq and Turkey over how to deal with Kurdish rebels near the countries' border continued today amid airstrikes by Turkish forces on rebel positions in northern Iraq.

U.S. and Iraqi officials are hoping that the talks will help stave off a major Turkish incursion into Iraq to fight the Kurdistan Workers Party, a rebel separatist group that Turkey claims has been using northern Iraq as a safe haven from which to launch attacks. The Turkish parliament has already voted to approve such an incursion, and the government has assembled about 100,000 troops at the border already.

Today in Ankara, Iraqi diplomatic and defense officials met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Interior Minister Besir Atalay; U.S. officials were also present. Turkey has been pressuring Iraq and the United States to step up their efforts against the PKK. U.S. officials, meanwhile, have been pushing for a diplomatic solution rather than a Turkish invasion, which they fear could further hinder the already formidable task of stabilizing war-torn Iraq.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the New York Times "that the Iraqi officials visiting Ankara today would offer to stop arms supplies and logistical assistance to the PKK." But Zebari, a Kurd, said the delegation would not "discuss approving any Turkish military actions inside Iraq."

AFP is reporting that an Iraqi official described today's talks as positive. "Very important talks are under way. There are positive results, everything is happening as planned," said Iraqi defense ministry spokesman Muhammed Askeri. The Turkish deputy prime minister told reporters after the meeting that Turkey had demanded the extradition of Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heads to Ankara next week for bilateral meetings with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

See The Gate's previous coverage of U.S.-Turkish relations here, here and here.

Posted at 1:32 PM
Posted to: Iraq, Kurds, Middle East, Turkey
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