TURKISH ISLAMIST PARTY LEADER SAYS US “NOT SINCERE” ABOUT KURDISH REBEL GROUP

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
24 Mar 06

Malatya [eastern Turkey], 24 March: [Islamist] Felicity Party [SP]
Deputy Chairman Recai Kutan has said: “I consider that the United
States is not sincere with regard to the [Kurdish rebel group] PKK
[Kurdistan Workers’ Party].”

Coming to Malatya for his party’s provincial chairmanship congress,
which will be held on the weekend, Recai Kutan noted in a statement
to the AA [Anatolia Agency] correspondent the things said by US Joint
Chiefs Chairman General Peter Pace about a joint project to be signed
with Turkey for the elimination of the PKK from northern Iraq, and
spoke as follows:

“I consider that the United States is not sincere with regard to the
PKK. The United States always uses the PKK as a means of blackmail.

As a nation, we generally have a weak memory. Not so long ago, General
Dogan Gures, when he was Chief of the General Staff, stood up to the
West and said openly that US helicopters had delivered material to PKK
members on so-and-so mountain, and given them logistical support. So
what is going on? Currently, Iraq is virtually entirely under their
control. Why do they not say anything to the PKK? Why do they not
get the forces of [Iraqi Kurdish leaders Mas’ud] Barzani and [Jalal]
Talabani to do something? Give these people what for, and prevent
them from infiltrating into Turkey. We are not saying that they all
have to be slaughtered. Just prevent them from sneaking into Turkey
and engaging in terrorist acts.”

“Is there nuclear energy only in Iran?”

Kutan, stating that one reason for General Pace’s visit was an appeal
for cooperation with Turkey against Iran, charged that, on this point,
the United States is being inconsistent.

Asserting that the United States wants at least to carry out an air
attack against Iran, Kutan related that it needs Turkey support in
this regard and said the following:

“The United States, saying that Iran is going to make an atomic bomb,
wants help from Turkey. What this means is this: It wants, by using
this trumped-up rationale, to destroy the nuclear facilities there,
with air strikes even if not a direct attack [i.e. invasion],
and wants to get Turkey on its side in this. But they should ask
themselves this question: Is there nuclear energy in the Middle East
only in Iran? Israel currently possesses both a nuclear reactor and a
substantial number of atomic bombs. There is also nuclear technology
in Pakistan. There is a nuclear power-plant in Armenia. So why is no
priority concern being shown for all of these, but it is being shown
for Iran?”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress