US-Turkey-Iraq-Kurds

[Megale]

If there isn't a change in this situation Turkey's position on the "US sphere of influence" might be in jeopardy.

By Paul Taylor
1 hour, 43 minutes ago



BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission urged EU candidate Turkey and Iraq on Friday to settle differences peacefully after Turkey's top general called for a military operation to quash Turkish Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq.

ADVERTISEMENT

Diplomats said pro-Turkish European governments had made clear privately to Ankara that armed action in northern Iraq would give its critics in the European Union ammunition to try to block or further slow its accession process.

"Our hope and the interest of all involved is that possible differences are dealt with in a peaceful and constructive manner," the EU executive's spokeswoman on enlargement, Krisztina Nagy, told a news briefing.

She declined to comment directly on a statement by armed forces chief of staff General Yasar Buyukanit at a rare news conference on Thursday that "from the military point of view, a (military) operation in northern Iraq must be made."

Buyukanit added that the military had not asked Turkey's parliament to authorize a cross-border operation.

Nagy said Brussels was following the situation closely.

"The stability of Iraq is in our common interest and the EU recognizes the constructive role Turkey plays in the area, and in this context it is important that Turkey continues to play such a constructive role," she said.

The EU requires candidate countries to resolve disputes with their neighbors peacefully, and to maintain civilian control over the military.

Another EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said of Buyukanit's comments: "This is not the type of statement that goes in line with the candidacy process."

U.S. WORRIED TOO

EU diplomats acknowledge Turkey has a genuine problem with fighters of the outlawed separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), believed to operate from rear bases in the mountainous Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

The PKK has attacked tourist targets and security forces in Turkey since ending a truce last year.

But an EU official said: "The position of the EU has always been to preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq."

The EU reaction was similar to that of the United States. In a sign of concern, the State Department said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried telephoned the Turkish ambassador in Washington on Thursday to urge Turkey to work with Iraq to resolve the matter amicably.

EU diplomats ascribed Buyukanit's comments partly to domestic tensions over a looming presidential election. But they said Turkey was not the only country with an election.

French presidential frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy has spelled out his opposition to Turkish membership. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has advocated a "privileged partnership" instead, although her government has kept the accession talks going during its current EU presidency.

Senior Turkish officials acknowledge that the strategic objective of joining the Union is a factor in the government's policy-making on the northern Iraq problem.

Asked whether military action in northern Iraq could harm Ankara's EU candidacy, chief Turkish negotiator Ali Babacan said in Brussels in February: "What you ask is not an easy question to say 'yes' or 'no'. EU member states know our sensitivities."

But after the EU suspended talks on eight policy areas last December to sanction Turkey for failing to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus, its hold over Turkish policy may be weaker

[Hellenika]

Haha, great. They can't help themselves. What is the US going to do if Turkey goes into Iraq? They have so much to gain if only they would just put on an act of being civil and yet they can't. This speaks volumes.

[Prokomenos]

That would be America's worst nightmare if Turkey went into Iraq. Also that would seriously jeopardize any chance of Turkey entering the EU which is a good thing.

[Anngora]

I don't agree with Cross border operations.. But North Iraq has become the base for terrorists, they receive training and then getting into Turkey to carry out their tasks. How can a country act when it's being attacked by a terror group from another country? I don't expect any of you to understand what terrorism means anyway,because you have never lived in the shadows of terrorism.

Prokomenos,Turkey will never be admitted into the European Union,we know this fact you don't worry about it.

[Khan]

Originally Posted by Anngora
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I don't agree with Cross border operations.. But North Iraq has become the base for terrorists, they receive training and then getting into Turkey to carry out their tasks. How can a country act when it's being attacked by a terror group from another country? I don't expect any of you understand what terrorism means anyway.

Prokomenos,Turkey will never be admitted into the European Union,we know this fact you don't worry about it.

TOTALLY AGREED!!!