Turkish raids upset Iraqi Kurd lawmakers

BAGHDAD, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Kurdish officials in Iraq said any Turkish cross-border raid in pursuit of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, the PKK, would be a violation of Iraqi sovereignty.

Kurdish lawmakers said they were concerned over a decision by Turkish lawmakers to renew a provision that allows cross-border military operations into Iraq in pursuit of guerrilla separatists.

Safeen Dizayee, the head of international affairs for the Kurdistan Democratic Party, told the Iraqi analytical Web site Niqash that the decision was frustrating.

"Any Turkish military incursion into Iraq's Kurdistan region is a violation of Iraqi sovereignty," he said.

He went on to accuse Turkey of pursuing a duplicitous policy, advocating dialogue while sanctioning military operations to address the Kurdish issue.

Ankara has dealt with more than two decades of militancy linked to Kurdish separatists. Gains by pro-Kurdish parties in Turkey, however, have led in part to a push to find a political solution to the issue.

His comments come as more than 80 lawmakers in Baghdad signed a measure condemning Turkish military operations in Iraq.

Nevertheless, Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Boulani said Parliament signed a comprehensive agreement with the Turkish government regarding Kurdish militants.

"The agreement includes controlling borders, fighting PKK elements and training Iraqi forces," he told the Voices of Iraq news agency.