Turkish gov't seeks new strategy against terror, piles pressure on U.S.

PRESSURE ON ALL COUNTRIES

Erdogan criticized countries around the world and urged them to take concrete steps against the terror organization.

 

The statements condemning the terror attacks are not and would not be a solution to the problem, Erdogan said.

 

"There are steps that should be taken jointly against all financial sources, as well as logistic capabilities of the terror organization (abroad)," he added.

 

Turkey has long criticized countries for ignoring those groups or people supporting the terror organization and their negligence in failing to cut the financial resources.

 

"We have made some calls to those (countries). We expect positive response in action to those calls. We widen all these (efforts and calls) under diplomacy, and will continue to do so."

 

TURKEY WARNS U.S.
Turkey had given a diplomatic note to Iraq on Sunday as well as issuing a warning for the U.S., which is leading coalition forces in this country.

 

Turkey's warning to the Washington administration was relayed via the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Hurriyet daily reported.

 

According to the report, the warning included four important messages to the United States:

 

"1) The rules of the international law bind the U.S. as the occupier and the leading country of the coalition forces in Iraq. You cannot ignore this fact.

 

2) The PKK issue was thoroughly discussed in the meeting of Erdogan and President George W. Bush in November 5, 2007 at the White House. Erdogan sent a clear message saying, "If you don't take any steps, we would." Turkey had proved it would not backtrack from this position with its air and land operations in northern Iraq. The criteria we set in Nov. 5 are still valid.

 

3) In Nov. 5, the U.S. administration declared that the PKK is "the common enemy" and it reiterated this afterwards. The U.S. should take the necessary steps against this common enemy.

 

4) The latest attack is different; because this attack on Turkish territory was carried from the soil of a neighboring country. This is unacceptable. Both the Iraqi government and the U.S. should protect the borders of Iraq."

U.S., KURDS UNDER FIRE
Ankara and Washington had agreed to share intelligence on the PKK after it intensified its attacks against Turkish positions in 2007.

 

The latest PKK attack, involving over 300 separatist with heavy ground weaponry support, had raised questions on the intelligence provided by the United States in Turkey.

 

Some media reports suggest the information flow between the two allies had been cut due to some technical problems prior to the attack.

 

The Turkish government had slammed the Kurdish administration in northern Iraq and blamed it for failing to take the necessary steps against the terror organization.

 

INCREASED MILITARY POWERS?

Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said Monday the government was considering a military request for an increase in powers in combating terrorists.

 

The military has said changes to Turkish anti-terrorism laws, pushed by the European Union, had crippled its ability to effectively fight the terrorists and should be revoked while still safeguarding human rights.

 

"We are studying ways to make these changes without stepping back from neither security nor freedoms," Sahin said.

 

Turkey's Parliament is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to extend by a year the military's authority to carry out operations in northern Iraq. The current mandate expires Oct. 17.