"Our determination to end the PKK presence in the north of Iraq was
explained to the central government and [Kurdish] local officials," Turkish
Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin said. "We can say an
understanding has emerged with the [Kurdish] local authorities. We expect
both the central government and local authorities to stick to their
commitments."
Iraq, Turkey and the United States have been engaged in consultations
against the PKK. The consultations began soon after the Turkish invasion of
northern Iraq in February 2008.
Officials said the first phase of the plan called for the outlawing of
PKK by the Kurdish administration in northern Iraq. They said the first
phase would isolate the PKK from the rest of the Kurdish region.
In the second phase, the Kurdish Regional Government would demand that
the PKK disarm. Officials said the northern Iraqi government would declare
the PKK, believed to have up to 3,000 fighters in Iraq, a threat to the
Kurdish people.
Unless the PKK disarms, the third phase would be introduced for military
action. Officials said the Kurdish government would work with Turkey and the
United States in a military offensive against the PKK.
"We see all three phases taking place in 2009," the official said. "We
want the PKK problem solved before the United States withdraws from Iraq."
Officials said the plan did not mean a suspension of military strikes
against the PKK in Iraq. On Dec. 17, the military reported that Turkish F-16
multi-role fighters struck a suspected PKK base in the Kandil mountains.
"The elimination of the PKK presence from the agenda of Turkish-Iraqi
relations is crucial," Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said. "Such a
development will boost our bilateral cooperation and will help achieve our
common objective of establishing a stable, prosperous and peaceful Iraq that
is free of terrorist activity."
