ANKARA -- At a press conference held in Ankara at the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), a spokesman for the TSK called the military build-up along Turkey's southeastern borders with Iraq "aimed at bolstering inner-security."

There was also an announcement made regarding the presence of the Turkish military inside the borders of Iraq:

"There is no secret regarding the presence of the TSK in Northern Iraq. We are not considering ending our activity there for as long as the PKK is also present and active in that area." At the briefing, it was also clarified to press members present that the presence of the TSK in Northern Iraq should be in no way confused with "operational activities."

The PKK terrorist organisation has camps in Northern Iraq and the organization has been using Northern Iraq as a base to attack Turkish targets and other neigbouring countries. According to the Turkish official documents Barzani and Talabani Groups allow the PKK activities. Turkish experts say that as far as the local Kurdish forces or the Baghdad cannot secure the borders, Turkish forces will fulfill this duty. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sedat Laciner from USAK (ISRO) argues that "one of the main responsibles in the recent PKK attacks is the Northern Iraq Kurdish rule. They do allow the PKK activities. Many PKK militants are freely join the elections, they freelly make propaganda, and they even can use armes against the Turkish targets or Turkmens". Laciner further continues:

"Barzani and Talabani are not happy with the Turkish and Iranian military operations. They think that Turkey has desire on Iraq territories. Turkey is more sensitive on Iraq's territorial unity than the Iraqi Kurdish leaders. They perceive Turkey as the biggest barrier before a separate Kurdish state. As a matter of fact that Turkey is not against the Kurds. Turkey seeks stability and security. Turkey-Iraq border is not secure and the Iraqi Kurds allow the PKK terrorists to attack Turkey and Iran. If Barzani and Talabani remove the PKK camps from the region, no Turkish military operation could be seen in the region."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ihsan Bal, another Turkish expert similarly told the JTW that Turkey will never allow the PKK activities in the region: "If the PKK starts to use Baghdad as a terrorist base, Turkey will do the same things in Baghdad."

The PKK is a terrorist organisation according to British, American and European Union laws. The PKK terrorism caused more than 35.000 deaths.

By Jan Soykok
www.turkishweekly.net