Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
June 14 2007

TURKISH MINISTER CRITICIZES IRAQ FOR FAILING TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST
KURDISH MILITANTS

Istanbul, 14 June: "According to the data we have, nearly 3,500-3,800
PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] terrorists have taken shelter in camps
in north of Iraq and provided their logistic support, weapons and
ammunition from this region. The most distressing thing is that
although Turkey tries to everything in its power to contribute to
security, well-being and stability of Iraq, Iraqi authorities simply
do nothing to prevent PKK activities within their borders," Turkish
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on
Thursday [14 June].

Taking the floor at the Second Istanbul Democracy and Global Security
Conference, Gul said, "All governments aim at creating a more secure
and more liveable world for their citizens. A better world is a world
where terrorism does not lurk around, people are not subject to bomb
attacks, children do not become drug addicts and violence does not
prevail."

"In today’s world, threats have become complicated and asymmetric. No
one was able to predict the September 11th events. And, it is not
easy to predict what is going to happen henceforth. This situation
entails us to develop and pursue policies which are as multilateral
and coordinated as threats themselves," he said.

"Democracy and democratization are not enough to obliterate
terrorism. They can only isolate terrorists. On the other hand, we
should not make concessions from democracy as fighting against
terrorism," he said.

"We spend billions of dollars every year to prevent proliferation of
nuclear, biological and chemical weapons as well as organized crimes
which jeopardize national and international security. In fact, we
should spend that money for prosperity and development," he said.

Gul stressed, "Turkey takes places at the intersection of organized
crime routes due to its geographical position. We have also been
fighting against terrorism since 1970s. Therefore, we have been
advocating from the very beginning that international cooperation and
solidarity are essential in the fight against terrorism. For
instance, our security forces and customs authorities impounded 8.2
tonnes of heroin only in 2005. This was 91 per cent of total heroin
seizure in 25 EU member countries. In the last three years, our
security forces intercepted more than 170,000 illegal migrants."

"Armenian terrorist organization killed 34 diplomats and their
relatives in 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, Turkey became target of the
Al-Qa’idah. Fifty-seven people were killed in four suicide attacks in
Istanbul. On the other hand, PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] has been
targeting not only security forces but also civilians in Turkey since
1984. In PKK’s acts of terror, more than 35,000 people, including a
number of children, women and babies, were killed in the last 23
years," he said.

"Recently, PKK’s acts of terror have accelerated again. This is
because PKK finds shelter in north of Iraq. Our security forces
seized 2 tonnes of plastic explosives brought in from Iraq. We expect
the Iraqi government to control its own borders," he said.

Gul added, "Turkey does not have any territorial pretensions. But our
government is determined to take all kinds of measures to safeguard
security of its citizens. Turkish people have the right to live
without feeling the threat of terrorism."