GEN. BASBUG: WE HAVE TO GET CONCRETE RESULTS REGARDING ELIMINATION OF PKK
Anadolu Agency
April 29
Turkey
ANKARA (A.A) – 29.04.2009 – Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker
Basbug said on Wednesday that local administration in the north of
Iraq must actively be involved in to eliminate the presence of PKK
terrorist organization in the north of Iraq.
"We have to get concrete results about this issue within this year,"
added Gen. Basbug who held a meeting with journalists of several
press organs in Ankara.
Noting that Turkey’s Iraq policy was obvious, and territorial integrity
had a vital importance, Gen. Basbug said that elimination of PKK in
the north of Iraq was very important for Turkey.
Gen. Basbug also said that he recently held meetings with Admiral Mike
Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. National
Security Advisor James Jones. He added that neither Mullen nor
Jones had any concrete demands from Turkey regarding Afghanistan and
Iraq issues.
Gen. Basbug said that he exchanged views about the recent developments
in Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq with Adm. Mullen.
He said that there were very serious developments in Pakistan, adding
that the U.S. and Turkey were uneasy about those developments.
Gen. Basbug also said that the U.S. considered to support the region
with military force prior to the elections that would take place in
Afghanistan in August.
Regarding Turkey’s sending additional military force to Afghanistan,
Gen. Basbug reminded that NATO undertook the responsibility of securing
Afghanistan as of 2006. He added that Turkey currently had 795-800
military forces in Afghanistan within the scope of International
Security Assistance Forces (ISAF), and they were working with Italian
and French units to extend support to Afghan government by contributing
to the safety of Kabul and surrounding regions.
Gen. Basbug said that normally Turkey would undertake Kabul Regional
Command as of August but it might be delayed to November because
elections would take place in Afghanistan in August. He added that
forces of Italy and France would be withdrawn from the region in
August, and the number of Turkish units might be increased if there
was a need.
Regarding problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Gen. Basbug
said that Armenia’s withdrawal (from the lands which it occupied in
Azerbaijan) was important.
Gen. Basbug said that Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained
Turkey’s views about the issue twice by saying that Armenia’s
withdrawal and opening of Turkey-Armenia border gate should be made
simultaneously. Gen. Basbug said, "we completely agree with this
statement."