Turkey, US, Iraq reiterate commitment to remove terrorist PKK from N.Iraq

The third ministerial meeting of the trilateral mechanism composed of Turkey, the US and Iraq, established last November to improve cooperation in the fight against the terrorist PKK, was held in Ankara yesterday. The meeting was attended by Turkish, Iraqi and US delegations headed by Interior Minister Besir Atalay, Iraqi State Minister for National Security Shirwan al-Waili, and US Maj. Gen. Steven A. Hummer, the deputy chief of staff for operations in the multinational force in Iraq. Speaking at a joint press conference after the talks, Atalay said they had focused on ways to further develop cooperation among the three countries against terrorism, and ending the presence of the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq in particular. He added that all three parties reconfirmed their determination to deepen their cooperation towards this end. "The participants in the meeting reiterated their determination to make coordinated action against the terrorist PKK more effective," Atalay said, adding that Turkey still expects Iraq to do more to end the PKK presence in the region. "We always have greater expectations. We want more concrete results," he said. The PKK has launched attacks on Turkish targets from bases in northern Iraq, and Turkey wants Iraq to cut financial and other aid to the PKK and the capture and extradition of PKK members. Turkish warplanes often attack PKK hideouts in northern Iraq. The last airstrike took place a month ago, after a landmine on the Turkish side of the border killed six soldiers. For his part, al-Waili stressed that Iraq feels uneasy about any element that could pose a threat to Turkey's security, adding that the cooperation will continue until the PKK is completely gone from the region. Reiterating that the mechanism's main goal is to ensure the eradication of the PKK and its members from Iraqi territories and border areas, al-Waili described the meeting as successful, positive and comprehensive. "A spirit of cooperation prevails. I would like to underline that Iraq is working hard. This is our duty," he said. He added that the Iraqi Constitution says its territories cannot be used to endanger the security of any neighboring country. Atalay also said that the government would soon announce comprehensive civilian measures to tackle the southeastern Anatolia issue, adding that government efforts to fight the terrorist PKK go hand in hand with these plans.