Iraq Kurds Unfazed by Turk Troop Moves on Border

Reuters ^ | 3/8/2003 | Sebastian Alison

[a_Turk]

ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq (news - web sites)'s Kurds are not bothered by reports of a buildup of Turkish troops on the border of their self-governing region, but a Kurdish leader urged them on Saturday not to enter Iraq.

Hundreds of Turkish army vehicles moved toward the Iraqi border area on Friday, amid increased military activity that the armed forces have described as security precautions.

"We have noticed reports of troop movements and deployments inside Turkish territory. We are not concerned," said Massoud Barzani, head of the Kurdish Democratic Party, which runs the northern Iraqi provinces of Arbil and Dohuk.

Kurds have run three northern provinces since effectively breaking away from Baghdad's control after the 1991 Gulf War (news - web sites).

But relations with Turkey have been strained. Turkey has a large Kurdish minority and fears the northern Iraqi example could revive separatism among its Kurds.

Barzani reiterated the Kurdish position that Turkish troops should not enter Iraqi territory under any circumstances in the event of a U.S.-led war to oust President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).

"We hope Turkey will not send troops across the border as this will have very negative consequences for the people of the region, for Turkey and for everybody," he told a news briefing.

Ankara says it will send troops into Iraq, not to fight the Iraqi army, but to prevent a flood of refugees heading toward Turkey and to protect Iraq's Turkmen minority, ethnically and linguistically close to Turks.

Sami Abdul-Rahman, deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan regional government in Iraq, told Reuters last week: "So what are they coming for? To repress Kurds."

Barzani said Kurdish leaders were in close contact with Washington over the issue and hoped for a three-way meeting soon with the United States and Turkey.

"Yes indeed, we are engaged in constant discussion and dialogue with the government of the United States as well as Turkey. Very soon indeed this tripartite meeting will take place to address this."

Ankara's possible incursion has been complicated by the Turkish parliament's refusal to let U.S. troops use Turkish bases to attack Iraq.

Barzani said the Kurds had not been given any U.S. military equipment to fight the Iraqi army nor had Kurdish militias been given a particular role by Washington -- a fact that did not trouble him.

"We are not hired guns here," he said through an interpreter. "We have our own political agenda."

The United States and its allies are pressing the United Nations (news - web sites) Security Council to give Iraq an ultimatum to destroy any banned weapons by March 17 or face war.

Iraq denies it has weapons of mass destruction, but Washington says it will attack Iraq with or without U.N. approval.

Although he still hoped the current crisis could be resolved without war, Barzani said he would not be going anywhere on March 17 or 18.

"I'll be here, definitely. I'll be around in Kurdistan."

[a_Turk]

Barzani is the KDP ruler, who is on the border with Iran and has ties to the terrorist PKK.

Meanwhile, another convoy of 500 Turkish trucks carrying tanks, self propelled howitzers, Jeeps, fire engines, ambulances, bus loads of soldiers, and other equipment were seen crossing into northern Irak today according to Turkish media reports.

A PUK representative accepted assurances from the Turkish foreign minister in Ankara yesterday, that Turkey was not interested in conquering northern Irak, and stated at a press briefing that he was satisfied.

[eleni121]

Barzani is the KDP ruler, who is on the border with Iran and has ties to the terrorist PKK.

For Muslim Turks anyone who doesn't kowtow to the Muslim Turklsh mafia state is a terrorist.

[Mortimer Snavely]

"For Muslim Turks anyone who doesn't kowtow to the Muslim Turklsh mafia state is a terrorist."

Watch out for those Snapping Turtle Turks, eleni21.

And many thanx to awesomebeatles.com for the splendid graphic!