Armed Forces To Conduct Military Operations In Northern Iraq

The Parliament passes the request to extend the permission to conduct military operations in Northern Iraq against the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) guerillas for one more year. Only the Democratic Society Party (DTP) votes against it.

Bia news center - Ankara
08-10-2008

The Parliament has passed the request for the letter of permission to the Turkish Armed Forces to conduct military operations in Northern Iraq.

Supported by the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the National Movement Party (MHP), the letter of permission received 511 votes.
Eighteen deputies said no to the letter of permission.
MHP and CHP targeted Barzani

Talking on behalf of the CHP, deputy Şükrü Elekdağ said the previous letter of permission that was passed on October 17 for one year had failed to bring positive results, not preventing the terrorist attacks. He blamed the government for not being able to form a correct strategy.
He urged that the government pressure the Iraqi government and accuse Iraqi Kurdish leader Mesut Barzani for harboring and supporting the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK).

Using the same tone, MHP deputy Deniz Bölükbaşı too insisted on the need to pressure the administration of Barzani, to intervene militarily if needed and refuse any kind of diplomatic relationship with it.

Criticizing the fact that the Aktütün border post was not reinforced after the attack, Elekdağ called upon all the deputies to condemn this attack.

No vote from the DTP

Deputy Fatma Kurtulan, talking on behalf of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), said the problem could not be solved by military means and therefore passing the letter of permission was not going to help solve the problem.

Criticizing the reactions coming from the other deputies, Kurtulan emphasized that it was necessary to change the Constitution and advance to the pluralist and democratic system.
“The fact that Kurds also exist in this country that was won together must be recognized and the Kurdish people must be given the right to live as free citizens in a commonly shared country and under a common flag.”

Çiçek: Target is the AKP government
Talking on behalf of the government, Cemil Çiçek denied the charge that the negligent policies of the government were to blame. He said that they had provided the Armed Forces whatever it had asked for.

“The world is behind us on this for the first time. The government have shown the whole world that we were right in this matter. Therefore, the PKK is disturbed by us, by the Justice and Development Party (AKP). The target of the terrorist organization is the AKP government.” (EÜ/TB)