Çiçek was responding to charges from the opposition that the government sending to Parliament a motion authorizing a possible cross-border operation was simply a measure it had to take under growing public pressure and that it has no real intention of using the clearance for a military operation in Iraq. The Pentagon also raised eyebrows here in Ankara when a spokesman predicted that Turkey was not eager to enter Iraq despite the passage of the motion in Parliament on Wednesday.
The Turks clearly are frustrated and angry, said Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell at a press conference on Wednesday. "But I also do not think there is a great deal of appetite to take this next step," he added. "It would be an enormous step. It would have enormous implications not just for us, but the Turks, and I don't think there is any rush to war for the Turks." He reasoned that the Turks were aware of "how treacherous the terrain is; they know how dug-in the PKK is" and added: "I don't think there is any willingness or desire to have to solve this through a cross-border incursion in this area. I think, as frustrated as they are, they see as we do that the best way to deal with this is to keep the pressure on the PKK, on the Iraqis, on all of us to solve this problem diplomatically."
The motion does not specify any time table for a cross-border operation but allows such a measure at any time in the next year. Çiçek said that what is important now is to decide the timing and scope of the operation, emphasizing that this would be determined on the basis of military need. "There is no going back on this," he said.
Çiçek also dismissed calls from Iraqi Kurds for direct negotiations to resolve the PKK issue, telling them to instead convey whatever they want to discuss with Turkey to the Iraqi central administration in Baghdad.
"Who are they? What am I supposed to discuss with them?" Çiçek said, once again criticizing the Kurds for supporting the PKK. "Those who do not prevent theft are friends of the thief."
Turkey accuses the Kurds of tolerating and even supporting the PKK based on their soil, and Turkish officials have so far refrained from discussing the PKK threat with the Kurdish administration of northern Iraq, demanding instead talks with the Iraqi government in Baghdad.
“We don’t talk to Iraqi Kurdish groups. Our interlocutor is the Iraqi government in Baghdad, and we discuss whatever we want to discuss with its representatives. Northern Iraq is a part of Iraq, and the Iraqi Kurds should tell whatever they want to tell us to their own government in Baghdad. I am sure the Baghdad government will then convey what they say to us,” Çiçek said.
Iraq’s Kurdish administration called for direct negotiations yesterday, saying an incursion into Iraq would be detrimental to the entire region. “The Kurdish regional government welcomes direct dialogue with Ankara on all issues of common interest or concern, including the PKK,” the body said in a statement.
The government in Baghdad also appeared to be disturbed by the Kurds’ appeal for direct talks with Turkey. Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that the PKK issue with Turkey was a matter of national security and that all statements should come from Baghdad.
“The Iraqi central government is the one that will deal with this threat, and all the other concerned parties should understand the central government is running this crisis -- and they should not make separate statements,” Dabbagh said.
In its statement on Thursday the Kurdish government denied it was backing the terrorists and insisted Iraqi Kurdistan was a friend of Turkey’s. “We appeal to our friend and neighbor Turkey to refrain from military action in Iraq. The Kurdish regional government seeks no conflict with Turkey. We do not and will not allow our territory to be used by anyone to attack or undermine Turkey or any of our neighbors. We do not interfere in the internal affairs of Turkey, and we expect the same in return,” it read.
It also said Turkish trade and investment had been instrumental in the region’s economic growth and that any Turkish military attack would threaten “the fragile progress that is being made in Iraq.”
Criticism of US, EU
Çiçek also leveled harsh criticism against the United States, which has so far turned a blind eye to Turkey’s demands to crack down on the PKK camps in northern Iraq. “A country like the United States should do more than what it does now. It is capable of doing more,” he said. “Our people ask us: ‘You have been talking to the US for so long and what is the result? There is no result and it seems there will be no result’.”
He accused the European Union of “insincerity” in its statements condemning PKK terrorism and vowing solidarity with Turkey. “The PKK has hundreds of associations and companies operating in Europe. PKK leaders are given asylum. Unfortunately, Europe does nothing except send condolences after every terrorist attack. Without support from outside, the terrorist organization cannot survive a single day. The PKK is the terrorist organization that receives the biggest foreign support. We haven’t seen the EU supporting us in the fight against terrorism; we even witnessed them protecting terrorists. We have seen the terrorists fly from Europe to PKK camps in northern Iraq. Then they tell us not to launch an operation into northern Iraq. The terrorism will continue to claim more innocent lives as long as this hypocrisy continues. If you call the PKK a terrorist group, then act accordingly. If you don’t do what you have to do, then don’t interfere in what Turkey does.”
On Wednesday, the European Commission said it hoped Turkey would respect Iraq’s territorial integrity and called for negotiations with Iraq to resolve the PKK issue. “It is crucial that Turkey continue to tackle this problem through cooperation between the relevant authorities,” commission spokeswoman Krisztina Nagy said. “The EU and Turkey have regularly reiterated that they remain committed to the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq,” she said.