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Turkish Press Review, 07-12-17Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning17.12.2007CONTENTS
[01] TURKISH PLANES STRIKE AT TERRORIST CAMPS INSIDE N.IRAQTurkish 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/[02] 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/[03] 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/[04] BABACAN GOES TO PARIS FOR PALESTINIAN DONORS’ MEETING, STRESSES DETERMINATION FOR EU GOALForeign 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/[05] 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/[06] 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/FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... [07] COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AGAINST THE PKKBY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)Columnist Taha Akyol comments on the weekend air operation against the terrorist PKK. A summary of his column is as follows: “Yesterday’s air operation against terrorist PKK camps in northern Iraq was the fruit of long technical and political preparation. When US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice came to Turkey, she said that Turkey had a ‘comprehensive plan’ to fight the PKK. Of course, this plan was prepared by military, diplomats and intelligence officials, in accordance with political directives. When Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with US President George W. Bush early last month, they reached a consensus on the outlines of this plan. Immediately afterwards, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun met with his US counterpart James Cartwright and Iraq Commander David Petraeus and at their meetings in Ankara, a mechanism was established to facilitate intelligence sharing. That this sharing took place shows that this time military efforts are serious and based on a plan. Yesterday’s operation is an element of this comprehensive plan and when needed, a more comprehensive one will be carried out. The operation’s importance can be summed up as follows: Turkey has gotten US and Europe support for these cross-border operations. If it had not, the US and Europe would have been pointing their fingers at Turkey and this would have strengthened the PKK politically. But the diplomatic side of this comprehensive plan, which is as important as the intelligence and military sides, was arranged well and thus Turkey has the support of the international community. The success of this complex operation showed that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has a high capacity for planning and operations. This will boost Turkey’s deterrence. The PKK’s mobility in northern Iraq has been limited. Even if the PKK terrorists have scattered, it’s very important that their training and warehouse facilities and shelters were destroyed. The PKK and the northern Iraqi Kurdish administration have separated along political lines and won’t be able to cooperate as easily as they did in the past. The diplomatic and military legs of the comprehensive plan are being conducted successfully. Obviously, it also has a domestic policy leg. This is expressed with the term ‘bringing terrorists down from the mountains.’ Of course, this term is ambiguous and contextual. This is how it was done in other countries facing ethnic terrorism. First, everybody should see that even during the ’90s when the PKK seemed to have established dominance in the country’s southeast, Turkey didn’t give up. Today, Turkey is superior militarily, internationally and politically. Compelling Turkey to do something by force of arms is a futile and bloody dream. On the contrary, Turkey’s military operations and the international community’s stance on terrorism will be more intensive! The PKK has no choice but to lay down its arms. Ankara is signaling that there might be further arrangements to Penal Code Article 221 on ‘penitence.’ Maybe the comprehensive plan includes these arrangements as well. The PKK should recognize these military, political and legal facts and unconditionally lay down its arms, and the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) should move in this direction.” Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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