Alalam News Network, Iran
Oct 12 2007

PM: Turkey Not Wait for US Permission

ANKARA, Turkey, Oct 12–Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
Friday that Turkey would not be deterred by the possible diplomatic
consequences if it decides to stage a cross-border offensive into
Iraq against Kurdish rebels.

"If such an option is chosen, whatever its price, it will be paid,”
Erdogan told reporters in response to a question about the
international repercussions of such a decision, which would strain
ties with the United States and Iraq. "There could be pros and cons
of such a decision, but what is important is our country’s
interests.”

Erdogan also had harsh words for the United States, which opposes a
Turkish incursion into Iraq because it could disrupt one of its few
relatively stable areas.

"Did they seek permission from anyone when they came from a distance
of 10,000 kilometers and hit Iraq?” he said. "We do not need anyone
else’s advice.”

Analysts say Turkey could be less restrained about defying the United
States because of a US congressional committee’s approval of a
resolution labeling the mass killings of Armenians around the time of
World War I as genocide.

"Democrats are harming the future of the United States and are
encouraging anti-American sentiments,” Erdogan said. Democratic
Party leaders in the House of Representatives support the resolution.

Erdogan said Turkey was ready to sacrifice good ties with Washington
if necessary.

"Let it snap from wherever it gets thin,” Erdogan said using a
Turkish expression that means breaking ties with someone or
something.

"In the United States, there are several narrow-minded legislators
who can’t think of their own interests and who cannot understand the
importance of Turkey,” Mercan said.

Erdogan said Turkey has long been seeking the cooperation of Iraq and
the United States in its fight against Kurdish guerrillas, but there
has been no crackdown on the rebel Kurdistan Workers Party, which has
bases in Iraq. Erdogan said a recent anti-terrorism deal signed with
Iraq was not valid since it had not been approved by Iraq’s
parliament yet.

The Turkish parliament was expected to approve a government request
to authorize an Iraq campaign as early as next week, after a holiday
ending the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

"We are making necessary preparations to be ready in case we decide
on a cross-border operation since we don’t have patience to lose more
time,” Erdogan said, adding that Turkey has lost 30 people in rebel
attacks over the past two weeks.

A Turkish soldier was killed in a mine explosion on Thursday night on
Mt. Gabar in southeastern Sirnak province, which borders Iraq,
authorities said Friday.

The private Dogan news agency reported, meanwhile, that troops and
rebels were fighting on a mountain near the town of Uludere, in
Sirnak. The rebels fired mortar shells and opened fire with heavy
machine guns from the Iraqi side of the border, sparking a response
from Turkish soldiers, the agency said. One soldier was injured in
the clash.

Bahoz Erdal, a senior rebel commander, said the PKK fighters were
moving further inside Turkey and taking new "positions” in the face
of attacks from Turkey, pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency reported
Friday. The agency is based in Belgium.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people since 1984.