Government Seeks Parliamentary Consent for Cross Border Operations

Government spokesperson Cemil Cicek said that the draft to authorise cross-border operations into Northern Iraq will be sent to parliament on 17 October (Wednesday).

The draft will specify the extent and the limits of the operation, the number of personnel deployed and the duration. Parliament will be asked to authorise one year of military operations.

Cicek: "As soon as possible"

Cicek added, “Parliament will decide when to put this on the agenda. But the MPs are aware of the sensitivity of the situation; it is my heartfelt wish that they discuss this as soon as possible.”

Cicek described the aim of the operations as preventing the PKK from spilling more blood and threatening Turkey.

“What we wanted from Iraq was that the scourge be destroyed there. However, agreements unfortunately did not allow for that. There is no sincere, constructive international cooperation as far as terrorism is concerned. Terror will not end with seasonal fights. It takes decisiveness and continuity.”

"Threats are planned there" 

He added, “The Turkish Republic’s basic policy is peace at home, peace in the world. We have no eye on any other country’s riches. And the friend and brother Iraq and Turkey are two neighbouring people, countries. We are striving to protect Iraq’s territorial integrity, national unity and stability. All people in Iraq are our brothers, the people are our friends. But everyone needs to acknowledge that the PKK, which is hiding in Northern Iraq, is damaging Turkey. Threats are planned there and put into practice here.”

According to Cicek, “the PKK has done most damage to our citizens in the East and South-East. The losses we made because of terrorism are 300 billion dollars. The GAP development project which targets economic development of the region is worth 32-35 billion dollars. This means that Turkey is forced to create at least eight, nine GAP projects. The PKK is obstructing people’s welfare.”

"PKK is straw man of other countries" 

Answering journalists’ questions, Cicek also said that the PKK did not represent the Kurdish people but harmed them. “The PKK is the straw man of intelligence organisations and policies of important countries who want to prevent stability in Turkey. It is easy to understand whom the PKK is working for.”

He added, “The whole world considers the PKK a terrorist organisation. We then expect its activities to be stopped. This precautionary measures are not taken to a satisfactory degree. When has there ever been a PKK member returned to Turkey? The agreements on the return of criminals are not working.” (TK/AG)