Speaking Of Turkey’s Incursion Into N. Iraq Premature

SPEAKING OF TURKEY’S INCURSION INTO N. IRAQ PREMATURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.06.2007 16:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The domestic situation in Turkey is
tensed. Suppositions of possible incursion into Iraq are heard more
and more frequently, director of the institute of oriental studies,
doctor Ruben Safrastyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

The Turkish general staff supports the idea of intrusion while the
government led by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) stands
against military operations yet, according to him.

"Before the terrorist acts in Ankara the AKP was very cautious of
the military’s plans. Now, fearing to lose the votes, Erdogan’s party
backs a campaign against Kurds," Safrastyan said.

However, he underscored, the problem has a foreign policy coloring
as well. "The U.S. does not officially OK the military operation,
nevertheless, authority in N. Iraq was delegated to the Kurdish
administration and withdrawal of troops has been already launched.

The Turkish general staff can provoke an incident for incursion
but it’s premature to give exact forecasts," he said reminding of
concentration military equipment and personnel at the Turkish-Iraqi
border.