Turkish troops on the ground in
north Iraq, on the hunt
for members of the Kurdish
Worker's Party, or the PKK.
Al-Iraq News, Iraq
Kurdish MP
Blames
U.S.
Occupation Forces
for Turkish
Invasion
"According to Al-Atrushi,
everyone knows that since the Iraqi Army was dissolved in 2003, the task of
America's occupation force in Iraq has been to protect the nation's borders
until Iraq's new force is ready to take over."
Translated By James Jacobson
February 23, 2008
Iraq -
Al-Iraq News - Original Article (Arabic)
Kurdish Member of Parliament
Al-Atrushi said that the entry of Turkish forces onto Iraqi land is a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, and
blamed the American occupation forces for the events taking place in northern
Iraq. According to Al-Atrushi, everyone knows that since the Iraqi Army was
dissolved in 2003, the task of America's occupation force in Iraq has been to
protect the nation's borders until Iraq's new force is ready to take over.
Al-Atrushi said it was
illogical for the U.S. occupation to allow Turkish forces to enter Iraqi
territory to carry out military operations which could put Kurdish citizens at
risk, adding that Peshmerga forces in northern Iraq are on full alert and are
fully prepared to cope in the event that Turkish forces enter Kurdish cities
and threaten Kurdish citizens.
|
Dahuk Province is the very northern-most province of
Iraq, abutting the Turkish border.
|
|
|
He was referring to
declarations by the President of the Kurdish Autonomous Region, Masoud Al-Barzani,
who visited the city of Dahuk (capital of Dahuk Province in north Iraq - see
map, right) on Friday in order to calm residents there.
Al-Atrushi said that so far,
all deaths and injuries suffered by Kurdish citizens were a result of Turkish
aerial bombing, and not Turkey's armed invasion [which began Friday, Feb. 22],
and he emphasized that for the sake of really solving the problem of the
Kurdistan Worker's Party [PKK ], Turkey needs to
work through normal diplomatic channels with Iraq, rather than resorting to a
military solution. He also expressed the belief that the solution of the PKK
problem is in the hands of the Turkish government, and is an integral part of
the problem with the Kurds of Turkey.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
He said that Turkey should
grant amnesty to all armed fighters and open the door for them to join Turkey's
Kurdish parties, offering them a way to express their views. He then added:
“I'm sure that this would push the armed factions to engage with those parties
and renounce violence."
He also mentioned that two
days ago, [Iraqi President] Jalal Talabani had received an invitation from the
Turkish government to visit Ankara to discuss, among other things, the issue of
the PKK. Al-Atrushi said he believed that Talabani’s visit would contribute to
a resolution of the problem. Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
SEE ALSO:
The New Anatolian, Turkey
For Evidence
of PKK
Activity,
Kurds Need
Only Ask
Americans ...
http://worldmeets.us/thenewanatolian000009.shtml
Kurdish Media, Northern Iraq
Dear Mr.
Bush: You Force
the Kurds to
Oppose You …
http://worldmeets.us/kurdishmedia000009.shtml
CLICK HERE FOR ARABIC
VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US February 25, 8:20am]