What has been told US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Ankara ?

Question

Rice came to Ankara as the Turkish military massed up to 100,000 troops along the border with Iraq in preparation for a possible cross-border incursion into northern Iraq to hit the PKK bases there after its calls on the United States and Iraq to take immediate action to deal with the terrorist group there failed to bring about a visible result. Her talks with President Abdullah Gül, PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and FM Babacan also came days before Erdoğan is due to meet with US President George W. Bush in Washington on Monday.

Babacan said Turkey had great expectations from the United States to tackle the problem and that the action from the US side must be imminent. “We have great expectations from the United States. We are at the point where words have been exhausted and where there is need for action,” he said.

But he also signaled that Turkey might be willing to consult with Washington before moving ahead with a cross-border attack on the PKK. “We hold a common view about taking up all problems together and creating solutions for them,” Babacan said.

He added that talks with Rice in Ankara should be seen as the “beginning of close cooperation” between Turkey and the United States, recalling the upcoming meeting of Bush and Erdoğan at the White House on Monday. “We hope the United States, which itself was a victim of terrorism, will understand our concerns and anger,” he said.

In a sign that details of a possible cooperation with the United States were discussed during the talks, Rice’s meeting with Erdoğan was also attended by a representative from the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Nusret Taşdelen, who heads the military’s department of special operations. Similarly, Gen. Ergin Saygun, deputy chief of general staff, will accompany Erdoğan on his visit to Washington.

Turkey has pressed the Iraqi central government to take measures to curb the PKK presence in northern Iraq, but heeding Baghdad’s acknowledgement that it has little influence in the region, it has increased pressure on the United States to deal with the matter. Ankara is reluctant to deal directly with the Kurdish administration running northern Iraq, saying it has nothing to say to people who support a terrorist organization.

At the press conference with Babacan, Rice said the United States expected Iraq and the Kurdish regional administration to fulfill its responsibilities in the fight against terrorism. She said terrorism should definitely not be allowed to exist in northern Iraq, warning that this could destabilize the region.

“The subject on our agenda is an operation, not a war. We hope that this operation will not be necessary,” Prime Minister Erdoğan said in a speech to officials from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party.)

Answer 1

Dear Mehmet,

They are always say same thing ...
'Do not worry, Please relax, We will interest' like that ...

One years ago, same thing and 1 years later again same thing ...

We will see, Are they Right or Not

Take Care

Answer 2

It's so funny to me that the US was so willing to take a stand against Iraq, but so unwilling to take a stand in either direction on this. PKK is threatening the US about as much as Iraq was.

If the US bears down on the PKK, it loses the support of much of the Kurds in Northern Iraq who quietly agree with the PKK actions. Currently the Kurdish Region requires little to no security, but if the US loses Kurdish support, then the security requirement increases.

What the US hasn't really seemed to notice is that Turkey is serious and that the security requirement is going to increase to combat levels if action isn't taken.

In the middle of this, the US is honestly making tangible efforts to give Iraq back to the Iraqis, and getting mixed up in this political situation which is centuries old, isn't going to fit with the US withdrawal, which the majority of Americans are begging for.

So, since the US has so much military presence in Iraq to begin with, the US has two main options. 1. Tackle the PKK or 2. Draw the line at Kirkuk and let the Kurdish Iraqis handle their provinces.

I like the second one, because it puts the decisions on the local officials, whose families have been there forever, not on US lawmakers who will never even visit Iraq. And fighting the PKK in those hills and caves isn't going to be quick or easy.

But I'm just a Dumb American, and I'm only a baby.

Answer 3

Countess ... it form of feels that all and sundry you do is look ahead to a very intense-high quality or solid article on Obama to take place in right here all smiley and boastful. Can this is which you haven't any very own concept of your individual to preserve Obama. So what one guy or woman does not characterize the full inhabitants of the united states ... did you already overlook that all of us stay in a "democracy"?

Answer 4

ANKARA, Turkey-As Rice met with the officials, snipers kept watch from nearby buildings and more than 2,000 police officers patrolled the streets. At a larger demonstration in Istanbul, about 200 marchers organized by the Communist Party of Turkey chanted "Down with American imperialism" and "Get out Rice" as they carried an effigy of Rice and a sign saying "Unite against the United States."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Turkey is just so Wonderbra and appreciative of the US. I think the US troops most definitely should be risking their lives in Iraq against the Kurdish rebels for such loyal allies of the USA. Keep up the fine display of gratitude Turkey!

Answer 5

El Tee, you get a thumbs up for your cute baby photo.

You get thumbs down because you don't know that the US did like you said now Iraq must handle the PKK.

The US makes a mess in the Middle East and leaves the mess for someone else to deal with. PKK was nothing when Saddam was there.

Answer 6

USA has been paying a lot of lip service to Turkey these last years. Now it is time to walk the walk.

We have a PM as smart as Mr Bush. I would expect him to quote from Mr Bush himself: "In the war of terror, you are either with us or against us."