Arinc: "We have good sooperation with both Syria and Iran against the PKK"

Turkey currently enjoys good cooperation with both Syria and Iran in its efforts against the terrorist PKK, and the press should work to accurately reflect this, said Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc yesterday. "Security is only one dimension of the (terrorism) issue," he told reporters following a Cabinet meeting. "Diplomacy is just as important." Arinc also criticized a recent newspaper headline implying that Syria is being less-than-cooperative in its anti-terrorist efforts. "Turkey has close cooperation with Syria and even with Iran," he said. "We can't ignore the recent operations of Syria against the PKK and its cooperation with Turkey. Similarly, we can't ignore the efforts of Iran in collaboration with Turkish forces. If we use such headlines and imply that they are the thoughts of the Turkish Armed Forces, we can damage our relations with Syria and make ourselves seem untrustworthy. We have very good cooperation with our neighbors."