Iraq promises Turkey it will crack down on rebels

BAGHDAD – Iraq pledged yesterday to crack down on Kurdish separatists launching attacks on Turkey from hideouts in northern Iraq, in a bid to avert a Turkish military incursion into its territory to hit the rebels.

Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said after crisis talks with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan in Baghdad that Iraq would restrict the movement of PKK rebels and target their funding. But it was not clear whether this would be enough to placate Turkey, which wants an end to cross-border attacks.Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara was giving diplomacy a chance, but reminded Iraq that Turkey’s parliament had given the mandate for a military incursion at any time.”Right now we are in a waiting stance but Iraq should know we can use the mandate for a cross-border operation at any time,” he told a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London on Tuesday.Zebari told Babacan that Iraq was ready to help rein in the PKK and halt their attacks.”I assured the minister that the Iraqi government will actively help Turkey to overcome this menace,” Zebari, himself a Kurd, told a news conference.”We will not allow any party, including the PKK, to poison our bilateral relations.”He said Iraq would send a security and political delegation to Turkey for more talks.”We will cooperate with the Turkish government, to solve the border problems and the terrorism that Turkey is facing through direct dialogue.”Nampa-ReutersBut it was not clear whether this would be enough to placate Turkey, which wants an end to cross-border attacks.Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara was giving diplomacy a chance, but reminded Iraq that Turkey’s parliament had given the mandate for a military incursion at any time.”Right now we are in a waiting stance but Iraq should know we can use the mandate for a cross-border operation at any time,” he told a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London on Tuesday.Zebari told Babacan that Iraq was ready to help rein in the PKK and halt their attacks.”I assured the minister that the Iraqi government will actively help Turkey to overcome this menace,” Zebari, himself a Kurd, told a news conference.”We will not allow any party, including the PKK, to poison our bilateral relations.”He said Iraq would send a security and political delegation to Turkey for more talks.”We will cooperate with the Turkish government, to solve the border problems and the terrorism that Turkey is facing through direct dialogue.”Nampa-Reuters

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