Babacan: "The N.Iraq regional administration must take a tougher stance against the PKK"

Turkey expects the local administration in northern Iraq to change its course to take tougher action against the terrorist PKK, said Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday. Babacan is currently in New York promoting Turkey's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2009-2010. Speaking to the state-owned Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), he assessed the government's new talks with the regional northern Iraqi administration on fighting the terrorist PKK. Stating that the administration should take additional concrete measures against the PKK, he added, "The regional administration must take a more serious stance against the PKK."