WASHINGTON D.C. - Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug said on Thursday that the U.S. was preparing for a serious military operation against the terrorist organization PKK in north of Iraq.
Gen. Basbug who is currently in Washington D.C. for the Turkish-American high ranking joint defense group meetings met with officials of Turkish-American Council (ATC).
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Gen. Basbug said that Turkey's interests about Iraq had two basis, one of them was protection of Iraq's territories and political unity and the other one was the existance of PKK terrorist organization in north of Iraq.
Gen. Basbug said that the latest statement of U.S. Department of State pointed out that certain serious activities would be launched against PKK terrorism. ''In our meetings with U.S. officials, we told them that the basic reason of our existance in north of Iraq is the existance of PKK in north of Iraq. We want the existance of PKK terrorist organization to fully end in north of Iraq, meaning terrorists' giving up weapons and surrendering to Turkey. We reached a full consensus on this issue. If this takes place, the reason of our military existance in north of Iraq will certainly end.''
Gen. Basbug said that U.S. deputy chief of general staff Gen. Peter Pace will come to Turkey in the first week of December as his guest. ''We will discuss the details of possible operation against PKK. The U.S. is very serious about this issue. The deputy commander of the American forces in Europe will follow the visit of Pace. You can regard the visit of two high ranking American officials to Turkey as the sign of the U.S. seriousness on the issue,'' he said.
Noting that they stressed during talks with American officials that Turkey did not have a secret program and agenda in Iraq, Basbug said that similarly the United States did not have a secret plan except its aim to protect political and geographical structure of Iraq.
Basbug said that he was pleased that American officials approached very positively to all suggestion presented to them and added that Turkish-American relations could not be harmed with small incidents. He noted that they especially discussed situation regarding Iraq during meetings and Turkey has already showed its support to the United States regarding Iraq.
Basbug said that Turkey had many things to do besides its military participation in stability force in Iraq and added that he conveyed this to his American interlocutors during meetings. He noted that this opinion was welcomed and Turkey was expecting proposals from the United states in a short time regarding this and reconstruction of Iraq as well.
Making a general evaluation of his visit, Basbug said that Turkish-American relations were rooted and they should be carried on, adding that he was very pleased with his visit.
Upon questions regarding bomb attacks in Istanbul, Basbug said that he was sad and he offered condolences for dead people and wished rapid recovery to injured people. He added that it was a very serious situation and he did not have enough information to make interpretation.
Basbug then met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.
Upon a question of a reporter after the meeting, Basbug said that they were in agreement with the United States to launch an operation against PKK terrorist organization, but its timing was not certain yet, adding that details would be discussed during his visit to Gen. Pace.
Basbug said regarding Cyprus issue that it was taken up generally during his U.S. visit.
Basbug is expected to depart from Washington today.
(GC-ÖŞ) 20.11.2003