Buyukanit: "Neither The US nor any domestic group implied we should end our op on the day we ended it"

Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday dismissed allegations that last week's cross-border land operation to eliminate the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq had ended due to US pressure. He made the remarks at a press briefing at General Staff headquarters flanked by Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun, Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug, Naval Forces Commander Adm. Metin Atac, Air Forces Commander Gen. Aydogan Babaoglu, and Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Isik Kosaner. Buyukanit called "worthless" such claims as that the US had set the theater of operations or that Turkish forces left Iraq when told to do so by the US. "Neither the United States nor any domestic circle implied that we should end the operation on the day we ended it," he said. "I will resign from the military if any US influence is proven." Stating that the operation's date of completion depended on conditions, he added, "If necessary, further operations in northern Iraq will follow." Gen. Basbug said that before the operation there were some 2,320-2,640 terrorists in northern Iraq and that the operation targeted the Zap area. "There two main reasons people join the terrorist PKK: One is PKK propaganda, and the other is poverty," he added.