Al-Iraq News, Iraq

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]