Cem: Limits Are Exceeded In Northern Iraq

ANKARA - New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem said on Friday that limits were exceeded in Northern Iraq and noted that ''Kurdish state which was actually shaped up there was supported against Saddam Hussein.''
Cem held a press conference in which he said that, ''a situation reminding Palestinian-Israeli war is about to erupt between the Arabs and Kurds.''
Ismail Cem requested that Turkey's interests should be taken under guarantee and in this context, Turkey's efficiency should be used on all sides in order to prevent a conflict. Cem noted, ''especially, taking over of Kakoki by the 'new state' will cause a long term Arab-Kurdish war and a new Palestinian dispute just beside us. The uncertain situation of Kakoki will damage Iraqi-Turkish oil pipeline.''
Drawing the attention that Turkey could face a new immigration wave after the developments in Iraq, Cem said, ''Turkey should not make the mistake it made in the past. It should keep the immigration wave within a buffer zone or a housing zone outside its borders and make necessary humanitarian support.''
Upon ''timing of a probable operation on Iraq'', Cem said that ''the year 2002 gained definiteness'' and this operation could be staged before or after the Ramadan.
Pointing to developments related with the European Union (EU), Cem said, ''signs coming from the EU are not encouraging. The government to be formed after the elections has to work efficiently and rapidly. If the laws passed by the parliament are implemented fast, a clear and open response can be taken from Copenhagen summit. Otherwise, we can lose some time even if our membership is not totally taken out of the agenda.''