TURKISH PLANES STRIKE AT TERRORIST CAMPS INSIDE N.IRAQ
Turkish warplanes hit terrorist PKK targets in northern Iraq on Sunday, the military said in a statement posted on its website. The warplanes bombed PKK targets in regions close to the border with Turkey as well as in the Qandil mountain chain, which is further from the frontier, the military's statement said. All the planes returned to their bases safely, it added. After the planes left the operation zone, the army continued firing on the targets with long-range weapons. Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said that the Turkish Armed Forces will continue hitting PKK targets even if there is snow. Buyukanit lauded the performance of the troops who took part, saying, "I am proud of the Turkish Armed Forces." Buyukanit said he had personally watched the operation. "All the targets were razed. Not a single civilian was hurt," he added. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN: "THE OPERATION WAS SUCCESSFUL"
Speaking at a ceremony in Izmir yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised a weekend bombing raid against PKK terrorist targets in northern Iraq. "An operation was conducted against terrorist camps in northern Iraq," he said. "According to initial assessments, this operation, which took place at night, was successful." Saying that the fighter jets which struck their targets returned safely to their bases, Erdogan added, "The Turkish Land Forces also participated in the operation. On behalf of myself, the government and the nation, I congratulate all members of the Turkish Armed Forces, including Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and army commanders who took part in planning and running this operation." /Turkiye/
CICEK: "THE TSK CONDUCTED A SUCCESSFUL CROSS-BORDER OP AGAINST TERRORIST TARGETS IN N.IRAQ"
Following a bombing raid against PKK terrorist targets in northern Iraq yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said more operations could follow and urged the PKK terrorists to surrender. "We hereby say to members of the terrorist group: You cannot reach anything or achieve any results through your current path," Cicek said. "Come, while there's still time, return to your mothers, your fathers and your families." He added, "The government is determined to eliminate this trouble from our country's slate in full coordination with the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and other units of the state." Cicek said the operation had been successful and had used the authorization given by the government. "The target of these operations is solely the separatist terrorists and their camps in northern Iraq," Cicek stressed. "Our nation's common sense and unified will are the most important tools in this fight." /Sabah/
BABACAN GOES TO PARIS FOR PALESTINIAN DONORS' MEETING, STRESSES DETERMINATION FOR EU GOAL
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday flew to Paris to take part in an international conference of donors on aid to the Palestinians. Before departing, Babacan told a news conference at Esenboga Airport that Turkey will not be swayed from its aim of joining the European Union. "Turkey's objective of becoming a full EU member is firm, and Turkey's EU accession process is in progress," he stressed. "The EU process is a process of patience. This process mustn't include any impulsive attitude or emotional reactions. Rational action is needed. During this process, there are those who want to make us angry and discouraged. But we will proceed with determination, will not be frustrated, and will not make even the slightest concession from our aim of joining the EU." Touching on the issue of cross-border operations against PKK, following Sunday's airstrikes against PKK terrorist camps, Babacan said that the fight against terrorism is multidimensional and Turkey is doing and will do all that is needed. /Aksam/
US EMBASSY: "TURKEY TOLD US BEFOREHAND ABOUT CROSS-BORDER OP"
Kathy Schalow, spokesperson of the US Embassy in Ankara, yesterday said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) didn't need to get permission from the US before its weekend airstrikes against terrorist PKK camps in northern Iraq, but that the US had been informed before the operation. "Turkey didn't ask for our approval," she said. "Conducting this operation is its own decision." In related news, State Department spokesperson for European affairs Chase Beamer said, "This is Turkey's own decision. We respect Turkey defending itself against terrorism." In related news, asked how the US sees efforts to get terrorists to lay down their arms and leave terrorist camps, State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack praised Turkish leaders' efforts to solve the terrorist PKK problem and eliminate terrorism. /Cumhuriyet/
US GEN: "THE MILITARY ALONE CAN'T SOLVE THE PKK PROBLEM"
Asked over the weekend whether intelligence sharing between the US, Turkey and Iraq made a Turkish cross-border operation into northern Iraq less likely, Gen. Richard Sherlock, director of operational planning at the Pentagon, said, "This decision will be made by Turkey." He added, "We provide intelligence about the terrorist PKK to Turkey. We help them to define their long-term purposes about the (terrorist) PKK. We're not trying to support a military operation or to stop it. We want Turkey to realize this: As the premier (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) said, this isn't only a military issue, a more expansive solution has to be found, we are trying to show Turkey how they can implement other components, including economic, diplomatic and information, to find a lasting solution." /Hurriyet/