Turkish Parliament extends mandate to cross-border operations in Iraq's Kurdistan region

[News_Editor]

Turkish Parliament extends mandate to cross-border operations in Iraq's Kurdistan region

2010-10-13 12:21:30 GMT+7 (ICT)

ANKARA, TURKEY (BNO NEWS) -- The Turkish Parliament on Tuesday adopted a motion that extends its mandate for another year to launch cross-border operations in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, local media reported.

The motion was approved after 428 Members of the Parliament (MPs) voted in favor while 18 voted against it. One MP declined to vote. Interior Minister Bashir Atalay told the Parliament that the mandate will help Turkey to prevent terrorist attacks from northern Iraq.

Last Wednesday, the Turkish government sent the motion to the Parliament seeking a third extension. The motion was first brought up to Parliament in 2007 and has been extended twice, in 2008 and 2009.

"Terrorist attacks and open threat of terrorist organization PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) groups sheltering in north of Iraq still continue against Turkish nation's peace and security, and Turkey's national unity, security and territorial integrity," the motion said.

The motion is to protect Turkey from the terrorist groups in Kurdistan, not against Iraq which the Turkish government considers it as a friend and brother country. Turkey carries military activities in the northern region of Iraq to end the presence of PKK terrorists.

Using intelligence supplied by the United States, the Turkish army has staged a series of air raids against rebel targets in the region since December 2007 and carried out a number of ground operations too.

The Turkish government is focusing its efforts in finding a peaceful solution to the PPK's deadly campaign. Recent reports indicate that officials met in secret with the convicted PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan who is serving a life sentence since 1999.

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