Tan: Mission Of Peace Monitoring Force In Iraq Ended

ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said on Friday that the mission of the Peace Monitoring Force (PMF), established to secure peace in the northern part of Iraq, has ended.
Replying to a question in a written statement, Tan recalled that PMF was formed in 1997 with initiatives of Turkey, the United States and Britain to monitor cease-fire after clashes between Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)and Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
Stressing that PMF served to maintain peace and stability in the northern part of Iraq, Tan said that the two parties in the region were thankful on the success of the PMF.
Tan noted that this force consisted of Iraqi local personnel that were trained with the contribution of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and added that it is obvious that those trained personnel could now be employed to assure the security in Iraq.
(EÖ-ULG) 02.07.2004