PKK PLANS TO LEAVE ARMENIA AS TURKISH-ARMENIAN TIES DEVELOP

Today’s Zaman
17 October 2009, Saturday

The normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia has
reportedly put the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist
organization in dire straits.

Many PKK members traveled to Armenia after the Turkish Armed Forces
(TSK) launched cross-border operations in northern Iraq in February
2008 to eliminate PKK camps in the region. But as relations develop
between Armenia and Turkey, members of the PKK currently living in
Armenia are making plans to leave the country in search of a new
safe haven.

A pro-PKK radio station that airs regular broadcasts for PKK circles
recently announced on its Web site that Armenia is no longer a safe
place to live and that PKK members should leave the country as soon
as possible. Intelligence agencies have learned that Greek Cyprus is
a possible new destination for members of the terrorist organization.

After the US-based holdings and financial resources of three leaders
of the PKK were seized due to suspected drug trafficking on Wednesday,
the PKK is reportedly trying to get its financial resources out of
Armenia quickly to avoid a new financial blow from that direction.

Turkish intelligence agencies have been monitoring pro-PKK TV and
radio stations for a long time. The PKK has commanded its members
through the Web site of a pro-PKK radio station to leave Armenia and
head to Limassol, Cyprus.

It has also been reported that the PKK has camps called Gyumri,
Yerevan, Lachin and Kalbajar — all named after cities in Armenia and
Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territory — near the Armenian-Turkish
border. The PKK reportedly operates organizations including the Kurdish
People and Religious Association, Yezidi Kurds Women Association and
Kurdish International Cultural and Information Association to help
sustain the PKK both financially and otherwise.

Intelligence agencies also report that the PKK has played a role
in the intercontinental drug trade, exporting heroin to European
countries from Afghanistan via Armenia and Iran.

Observers hypothesize that Armenian-Turkish diplomatic relations may
grow to encompass bilateral cooperation on security measures after the
Zurich Protocols are ratified by the two countries’ parliaments. The
fight against terrorism and drug trafficking will be leading items
on the agenda for cooperation measures between Armenia and Turkey.