ANKARA (AA) - Turkey, Iraq and the United States had laid the groundwork of a long-term cooperation to end terrorist threat in the north of Iraq, Hamid al-Bayati, Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister, said on Wednesday.
Appearing on a private television channel, namely CNN Turk, al-Bayati said that this cooperation would not solely be limited with plans, but would be put into practice.
Commenting on Turkey's expectation that the terrorist organization should be eradicated in the north of Iraq, al-Bayati said that it would be difficult for Iraq to guarantee that it would eradicate terrorist threats in its territory before fully assuring its own border security.
Al-Bayati said, ''if we can protect ourselves, we can also protect our neighbors.''
Noting that there were many things to do before a military operation against the terrorist organization, al-Bayati said that they could help voluntary return of Turkish citizens in Mahmour camp, and also cooperate in finding people who were wanted by red bulletin by the Interpol.
Claiming that an amnesty to be issued for the members of the terrorist organization PKK who were not involved in any crimes could facilitate this process, al-Bayati said that they also welcomed share of intelligence which could help eradication of the terrorist threat.
When recalled that there were political parties, which had connection with the terrorist organization PKK, among the parties that would join the parliamentary elections to be held in Iraq on January 30th, al-Bayati said that ''Kurdistan Solution Party'' was included in election lists, and added, ''we need more evidence to see that this party has links with PKK. If we are able to find legal evidence, we will do what is necessary to prevent this party from participating in the elections.''
(BRC-A֩
2005-01-12