‘TURKEY HAS RIGHT TO CROSS-BORDER OP INTO NORTHERN IRAQ’
Emre Caliskan – The New Anatolian / Ankara

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Feb 21 2007

Turhan Comez, the Balikesir deputy from the ruling Justice and
Development (AK) Party, says that the U.S. is still failing to take
concrete steps against terrorists in northern Iraq, adding there are
some threats in that region to Turkey’s national unity.

"Turkey has right to secure its national unity under international
law," he argued. "Turkey will use these rights whenever it needs to."

"According to United Nations resolutions and the 1926 Ankara Agreement
which was signed between independent Iraq and Turkey, Turkey has
right to secure its border," Comez added.

In an exclusive interview with The New Anatolian, here’s what Turhan
Comez had to say:

TNA: During your recent visit to the U.S., major topics for discussion
were Iraq both in general and northern Iraq, the terrorist Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK) and possible cross-border operations.

Turkey expects concrete steps against PKK militants. During your talks,
did you tell U.S. officials about Ankara’s uneasiness?

COMEZ: I had some talks with some non-governmental groups and
universities. I met with some U.S. officials including Joseph
Ralston, the special envoy for countering terrorism. I explained
Turkey’s position on the Iraq issue. The PKK problem is an important
issue for Turkey. There’s no doubt that Ankara should analyze the
situations which feed terrorism. However there are some steps that
Turkey’s allies should take. Nevertheless Turkey’s ally, the U.S.,
hasn’t taken any concrete steps yet. After 9-11, the U.S. sent troops
to Afghanistan to counter terrorism under the NATO charter. But on
the PKK issue the U.S. hasn’t taken concrete steps against militants.

There are some threats to Turkey’s national unity in northern Iraq.

Turkey expects the U.S. to take concrete steps against terrorism. I
held meetings on these issues.

TNA: While Ankara expects concrete steps, the U.S. suggests that the
PKK threat should be solved through diplomatic means. They oppose
military and cross-border operations. Recently there have been some
operations in Europe against the PKK. Reports say these operations
were supported by the U.S., but you characterized them as "fake."

Why?

COMEZ: During my meeting with Ralston, he underlined that the
operations in European Union member countries were supported by the
U.S. But I said that these operations are seen as fake. Because the
EU is protecting PKK militants. PKK militants have some actions and
activities in EU countries, including Belgium, France, the Netherlands,
and Austria. Turkey’s Security General Directorate spokesperson also
announced that EU supports the PKK by not blocking its financial
resources. Patrick Devedjian, an important Armenian-origin French
militant, already met with terrorists militants. On Feb. 6, about
1,000 Kurds joined a protest in Paris against the arrest of PKK leader
Abdullah Ocalan. The PKK office called the Ahmet Kaya Kurdish Cultural
Association Center is situated near the office of French presidential
candidate Nicolas Sarkozy.

This is all evidence that the EU doesn’t deal fairly with Turkey on
the PKK issue.

TNA: You believe that the special envoy mechanism for countering the
PKK set up between Turkey and the U.S. isn’t working. Why?

COMEZ: There are some mechanisms to counter terrorism. However Turkey
can’t cope with the situation by itself. Turkey needs allies’ support
to solve this issue, such as Iraq and the U.S. But the Iraqi government
doesn’t recognize the PKK as a terrorist group. The U.S.

should take concrete steps against the PKK. For instance, the U.S.

has to close the routes to the Kandil Mountains (where PKK forces are
based). Moreover, observation towers which are under the control of PKK
militants have to be closed down. Terrorist leaders in northern Iraq
should be arrested and be extradited to Turkey. The communication
system among PKK militants has to be counteracted. The financial
resources of the terrorist groups and its logistics also have to be
blocked. But these steps wouldn’t be taken. As a result Turkey has
right to secure its national unity under international law. Turkey
will exercise these rights whenever it needs to.

TNA: Do you mean that if it’s necessary, Turkey should conduct a
cross-border operation into northern Iraq? What if the U.S. and Iraq
oppose this?

COMEZ: The U.S. and Iraq have no right to oppose this action. Under
United Nations resolutions, Turkey has the right to secure its
border. Moreover, according to the 1926 Ankara Agreement signed
between independent Iraq and Turkey, both countries have the right
to secure their borders. There is a security zone between the two
countries. These agreements give Turkey the right to counter PKK
terrorism. Turkey should take concrete steps against the PKK; this
is Turkey’s right.

TNA: The U.S. suggested that Ankara establish contact with the
Kurdistan regional administration, and Ankara signalled that this
was a possibility. But Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar
Buyukanit came out against this. How do you see this debate?

COMEZ: There are several options on the table for politicians and if
necessary, they will use alternative policies. But the conditions
for establishing contact are important. How can Turkey establish
ties with leaders who act in an unfriendly way towards Turkey? We
know that the PKK militants are supported by (Kurdistan regional
administration President) Massoud Barzani and its peshmerga. Two
leaders — Barzani and (Iraqi President Jalal) Talabani — are in
contact with PKK militants and leaders. I think the main question is
why the U.S. wants to establish contact between Turkey and regional
leaders who support the PKK. If the regional government continues
its support for the PKK, establishing contact is out of the question.

TNA: What do you think Turkey’s role in northern Iraq should be?

COMEZ: First of all we need to answer why the U.S. is in Iraq. Their
aim was to secure the Iraqis from Saddam Hussein’s despotism and
find nuclear weapons and establish peace in the region. But these
aims hadn’t been met. The U.S. didn’t watch Saddam’s move passively,
so why should Turkey be passive regarding its neighbor? Turkey has
political, social, and cultural relations with Iraq. Turkey has to have
a positive attitude towards the region. On the other hand, politicians
in the region have to have the same attitude towards Turkey.

TNA: What’s your opinion of the Kirkuk referendum scheduled to held
later this year?

COMEZ: PKK terrorists coming from the Mahmur camp in northern Iraq
are now in Kirkuk. Turkmens I’m in regular contact with are reporting
that scores of PKK terrorists are coming from Mahmur and other camps
into Kirkuk and are carrying Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) identity cards. The U.S. isn’t
able to control events in Kirkuk. The peshmerga have a monopoly over
control of the city. If the referendum is held in Kirkuk later this
year as planned, and Kirkuk goes under Kurdish rule, this would spark
a new civil war that would last decades. Turkey should announce that
it will not recognize the results of a referendum on the future of
Kirkuk under these conditions. And we should also announce that we’re
going to intervene if civil war erupts in Kirkuk.