Turkey's Minister Underlines Importance Of Trilateral Mechanism Among Turkey, USA And Iraq

ANKARA - The Turkish foreign minister underlined on Monday importance of a trilateral mechanism expected to be set up among Turkey, the United States and Iraq.
Turkey`s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that the trilateral mechanism could be important for intelligence sharing and coordination of military activities, and would create a ground for consultation on steps that could be taken against the terrorist organization PKK.
"However, this trilateral mechanism is not a format that can substitute bilateral mechanisms Turkey is separately carrying out with the United States and Iraq," Babacan told a joint press conference with his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
Babacan said that Turkey had taken a significant step and established direct dialogue with the local administration in north of Iraq, but also underlined importance of Turkey`s contacts with the central government in Iraq regarding fight against the terrorist organization PKK.
The foreign minister said that Turkey thought that the terrorist organization took shelter in the region, ruled by the local administration in Iraq, and steered acts of terrorism against Turkey from that area.
"We are discussing what we can do to end the acts of the terrorist organization PKK and to liquidate the terrorist organization," he also said.
On Syrian-Israeli talks, Babacan said that Syria was always ready for continuation of talks however Israel preferred to go on with talks after a new government was formed.
Babacan expressed Turkey`s wish and hope to maintain the negotiation process.
The Turkish foreign minister also expressed Turkey`s support and intention to get involved in the Union for the Mediterranean initiative.
Also speaking in the press conference, Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos said Turkey and Spain were cooperating against terrorism, but Babacan demanded that this cooperation should be maintained in a more systematic way.
Moratinos said an agreement could be signed to combat organized crimes and fight against terrorism, and some other institutions could be included in this fight.
"Both Turkish and Spanish peoples have suffered much from terrorism," Moratinos said.
Moratinos said that all means would be used to counter terrorism, and expressed hope that good results would be gained in this fight.
(BRC-MS)
(DIP)