Analysis: Turkish worries over Iraq

MANAMA, Bahrain, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Turkey remains deeply concerned by ongoing developments in neighboring Iraq and opposes any division of the country, Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul told a security symposium gathered in the capital of the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain last weekend.

Addressing a conference organized by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies, Gonul said Turkey remains highly preoccupied by ongoing activities of the Kurdistan Workers Party, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization.

"They infiltrate into Turkish territory (from neighboring Iraq) in order to realize their bloody actions," said Gonul, referring to numerous incidents where fighters from the PKK carried out operations against Turkey and retreated across the border into Iraqi Kurdistan, where they find safe haven.

The PKK has been struggling for autonomy for the Kurdish-populated regions inside Turkey, though many observers believe their ultimate aim is to achieve independence for Kurdistan, a region that straddles Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria.

Since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Kurds in Iraq have gained greater autonomy for the region, although they remain -- at least for the moment -- attached to the rest of Iraq. Iraq's Kurds say they have no intention of seeking independence and wish to remain part of Iraq. Iraqi Kurdistan, which includes the region of Kirkuk, which both Kurds and Iraqi Arabs claim, is oil-rich. Under Saddam Hussein Kurds were forcibly removed from the city and its environs, which were repopulated with Arabs brought in from other parts of Iraq.

Since the removal of Saddam's regime Iraqi Kurds have thrived in their self-administered region. Indeed, Iraqi Kurdistan has fared far better than other regions of the country, enjoying superior economic conditions. The Kurdish autonomous region was largely spared the violence witnessed in regions populated by Sunnis and Shiites.

Turkey has accused Iraqi Kurds of harboring members of the PKK, with whom they sympathize.

"We will not tolerate the use of Iraqi soil to launch attacks against Turkey," Gonul said. "Expect words to be followed by deeds."

Turkey, whose Parliament recently authorized the army to conduct operations against the PKK in Iraq if the need arises, has deployed its troops along the border with Iraq and launched a series of operations against the Kurds.

Gonul placed the onus of keeping the PKK from crossing the border on Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdish authorities who control the Kurdish northern part of Iraq.

"The Turkish government expects the Iraqi government to close PKK training camps and extradite wanted terrorists to Turkey, said Gonul. He said Turkey has also shared its concerns with the United States.

Indeed, the United States seems to be caught between satisfying Turkey's national security concerns on the one hand and keeping a precious ally in Iraq, where U.S. forces need all the help they can get. Turkey worries that an overly dependent Kurdish region in northern Iraq, where Kurds fighting for autonomy in Turkey are given safe refuge, will only encourage the separatist movement.

Since the start of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 the Kurds have been a staunch ally and supporter of the U.S. military war effort.

"Terrorism," Gonul said, "can only be overcome through international cooperation."

As the Turkish defense minister pointed out, Turkey is strongly opposed to the division of Iraq. Ankara fears that the creation of an independent Kurdish state on its border will encourage Turkey's Kurdish population to follow the example of their Iraqi brethren -- a move Turkey is prepared to prevent by force if need be.