TURKISH OPPOSITION LEADER URGES NATIONAL POLICY ON TERRORISM

Anatolia news Agency
Oct 16 2007
Turkey

Ankara, 16 October: I invite the Turkish government to formulate a
national policy on the fight against terror, Deniz Baykal, chairman of
the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said on Tuesday
[16 October].

Speaking at his party’s group meeting at the Turkish parliament,
Baykal said, "It is high time for the Iraqi government to make a
choice between Turkey and PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party]. Enough is
enough. Turkey will no longer remain silent against terrorist acts,"
noted Baykal.

"The Turkish government has come to a point where it took a decision
for a cross-border operation into north of Iraq. The United States
must make a decision on whether to support the regional government
of Iraq or its ally Turkey," remarked Baykal.

Baykal stressed that "Turkey must handle the issue of terror in a
national platform, established by the government and the Opposition.

We are ready to extend every assistance possible to the government if
it decides to establish a national platform above political parties."

Deniz Baykal stated that possible adoption of an Armenian bill by
the US House of Representatives would set up an example to other
countries in the world.

"I am afraid that the president of the United States will begin
to refer to the incidents of 1915 as a ‘genocide’ as of 24 April,"
he said.