GEN. BUYUKANIT HOLDS A NEWS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON D.C.
Anatolian Times, Turkey
Feb 20 2007
WASHINGTON D.C. – "I got the impression (during his talks with
the U.S. authorities) that fight against terrorist organization
PKK was comprehended well and reached a serious dimension,"
Turkish General Staff Chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said in a news
conference in Washington D.C. Informing reporters on his talks with
the U.S. authorities, Gen. Buyukanit said that Iraq, PKK terror,
Kirkuk and resolution on so-called Armenian genocide were discussed
during his meetings.
Replying to a question on a dialogue with Kurds in the north of
Iraq, Buyukanit noted, "I`m a soldier. My task is to fight against
terrorism. It is impossible for me to have a talk with those who
consider PKK a political entity. Two (Kurdish) groups in the north
of Iraq extend full support to PKK currently. Some say that we should
talk to them. What will I tell them who support PKK? We know that it
(PKK) obtains C-4 explosives from them."
"Another issue concerning the military is to secure our border. I
also had talks on this matter. It is very difficult to protect the
Iraqi-Turkey border. It is high and steep. We placed high number of
(security) forces there. The other side of the border is empty. No
security force in Iraq was designated to protect the other side. The
border`s other side in Iraq was delivered to PKK. There are several
armed terrorists on the other side. I told the U.S. authorities this
issue," he stressed.
Stating that the region was under the control of two groups in the
north of Iraq, Buyukanit indicated, "these groups made statements
against Turkey. As you know the Turkish parliament held a closed-door
session earlier to discuss Iraqi issue. After that the administration
in the north (of Iraq) held a similar session and then they made a
statement. This statement disturbed us which said that PKK was not
a matter of terror, but a political one."
He underlined that several countries including the USA considered
PKK a terrorist organization.
Replying to a question, Buyukanit said, "if a terrorist organization
is not supported by other countries, it cannot survive. PKK has existed
for long years, because it was supported financially and politically."
"Not only military but also all organizations, institutions fight
against PKK terror. On the other hand, there are several parameters
supplying terror. We explained those issues to the U.S. authorities,"
he stressed.
Stating that several countries and organization including USA, EU
and NATO accepted that PKK was a terrorist organization, he said,
"however several conferences have been held recently. The question is:
Is it possible to turn PKK into another identity? Some circles think
that it is possible to turn it into an issue of human rights and
minorities. It is the most important matter regarding fight against
PKK. Turkish nation should be on alert on this matter."
Answering a question on a possible limited operation to the north of
Iraq, Gen. Buyukanit noted, "a symbolic operation is not conducted.
Operation must have a target and a limited operation is not staged."
-KIRKUK-
In regard to Kirkuk, Buyukanit said, "we have historical ties with
Kirkuk. The city is a miniature of Iraq. Problems of Iraq also exist
in Kirkuk."
Gen. Buyukanit said, "a referendum is being planned to be held in
Kirkuk at the end of 2007. Demographic structure has been changed
there. At the end of referendum there will be an ethnical and sectarian
clash there. This situation will destroy unitary structure of Iraq. A
divided Iraq does not comply with interests of Turkey.
That`s why we are interested in Kirkuk."
Stating that he informed the U.S. authorities on those matters, he
said that all state institutions considered that unitary structure
of Iraq must be protected.
-IRAN-
"Turkey does not approve several countries` possession of nuclear
weapons in our region. We told U.S. authorities that it is a threat
for whole region. Turkey earlier said that this matter should be
solved through peaceful means," he noted.
-RESOLUTION ON SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE-
Buyukanit said that the U.S. administration was ill at ease over the
resolution on so-called Armenian genocide, stating that all U.S.
officials that he met were against this resolution.
In regard to military relations, Buyukanit said that military relations
between Turkey and the USA were moving on the right track.