Blast Causes Fire on Pipeline in Turkey ~ A suspected Kurdish rebel attack

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A suspected Kurdish rebel attack caused an explosion and huge fire on a natural gas pipeline in eastern Turkey, the Energy Ministry said.

The region's governor, Halil Ibrahim Akpinar, said separatist Kurds were suspected of carrying out an attack on the pipeline. He did not say if a bomb was believed to have caused the explosion.

The blast shook houses in nearby villages, the private Dogan news agency reported.

Gas flows to the nearby province of Erzincan were cut, Energy Ministry spokesman Bulent Ismen said.

Paramilitary police sealed off the area and firefighting teams were dispatched to the region.

Turkey has been importing natural gas from Iran through the 1,598-mile pipeline since 2001. Turkish and Iranian officials are reportedly discussing expanding the pipeline for exports to Europe.

Rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, previously have sabotaged pipelines as part of their struggle for an autonomous homeland in southeastern Turkey. More than 37,000 people have been killed since the rebels took up arms in 1984.

The group is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Turkey is pressing the United States and Iraq to crack down on the rebels, many of whom are based in northern Iraq.

This as you can pretty well imagine is going to be an ongoing problem which Turkey and Iraq somehow are going to have to work out for the sake of said two countries.
Neither can afford to allow the PKK to continue to get away with the trouble they have created in the region.
I realize some here can go into lengthly well thought out discusions as how the British mandate that sectioned created Iraq and Kurdistain has plaged the region, but at this point in time, these rebellious cultural groups that want their own independent country are just going to have to realize one can only slice up land so much.
IMHO, it would benefit both Iraq and Turkey to come to some mid ground as how best they can perhaps partly pacify this group. Turkey would like to do a lot of business in northern Iraq. Both Turkish and Iraqi business could both benefit over the next ten year plus if they could somehow get this northern region stabilized. I realize it is easy for me to spout off a few generalities but it just seems it is time for these two countries to create a better relationship. Saddam is gone. The Turks have to realize this new IG can do business with them, if both can win in the process.

Just one of many sources, http://counterterrorismblog.org/iraq/

"[Last month] the Turkish daily Zaman reported that U.S. ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson had announced a joint strategy against the PKK:

"The United States has expressed its support to Turkey over a joint operation against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). US Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson informed that the US is working to develop more functional methods for dealing with the PKK. Wilson referred to the common vision document that was signed between Turkey and the US a month ago, and stressed that the document foresees cooperation over the PKK, economic and commercial issues as well as many others. . . . Sources reported that the US is ready to take concrete military steps against the PKK.

"Reader Timothy Thompson reports that he has heard from well-placed Turkish sources that the State Department's position on the PKK shifted markedly two to three days ago, ultimately resulting in the present announcement. These sources believe that the announced cooperation forestalls Turkish plans of unilateral intervention. Turkey is now committed to only crossing the Iraq border with express U.S. approval and coordination."

[End excerpt]

It's about the PKK. This is not Turkey v. the Kurds that we know and love! (As far as I know they are the only ones in Iraq who have taken ads in our media to thank us -- also, they are so successful they are not allowed on our MSM). They are no fans of the PKK!

I agree with some of what you say. I do not agree that the PKK should be in any way included in any future for Kurdistan (if that is what you intended).

Our corporations and transnational corporations are in Kurdistan. Turkish businessmen are already there by the scores.

As far as stability it seems to me it's fair to ask, How much more stable can it get? See http://www.ekurd.net/ for example.

Now on to general comments for no one in particular.

RE: Turkish and Kurdish relations. Not all see the roses. To wit, see "Iran and the Middle East crises." at the above site.

I don't know the author's past but it shows that there are hard feelings (on both sides) -- not the least of which (and not mentioned) dates back a mere 50 years when Turkman residents were massacred by the Kurds. Maybe this author objects but it seems that most on both sides are willing to get on with the future.

The author suggests that the Prime Minister of the Kurdish Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani, wants a peaceful, mediated solution with the PKK.

Really?

He must have changed his mind. To wit,

"The greatest blow to the Kurdish people came from the PKK. No other movement has damaged the Kurdish movement like the PKK. Abdullah Ocalan was against the establishment of a parliament on these lands. The PKK totally damaged the image of the Kurds. There were different ways of solving the Kurdish question. The PKK blocked all these ways.

"[Question from interviewer] Turkey followed up many of the incidents taking place within its borders in your lands.

"The Turkish Armed Forces launched many operations on our lands. This is not something that should be hidden, it is a good thing. We are struggling together with the TSK [Turkish Armed Forces] against the PKK. When the PKK disappears there will not be a new problem regarding Turkey and the Kurds. At this moment, there are no problems between the Turks and us."

[End quotes, my emphasis]

see http://www.kurdmedia.com/inter.asp?id=10114

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.