SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq, 23 October 2007 — Kurdish rebels yesterday offered Ankara a cease-fire, on condition that the Turkish military abandons plans for an incursion into Iraq and ends attacks against the separatist group. The move, designed to stave off Turkish threats to strike their bases in the mountains of northern Iraq, came as the White House urged Iraq to do more to stop the rebels from using its territory to attack Turkish troops.
“We are ready for a cease-fire if the Turkish Army stops attacking our positions, drops plans for an incursion and resort to peace,” said a statement posted on a website run by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to launch a military drive into northern Iraq unless Baghdad clamps down on the rebels and turns over the PKK leaders it accuses of masterminding cross-border attacks.
“We are calling for a peaceful solution and distancing ourselves from violence,” said the rebel statement. “If Turkey stops attacking us, the battle will stop and we will start the peace action. We are ready to start dialogue and we are ready to join the political process if Turkey give us the chance,” it said.
The statement from the PKK, blacklisted as a terror group by both Ankara and the West, noted that past cease-fire offers had been ignored by the Turkish Army. The declaration was preceded by Iraq President Jalal Talabani, himself a Kurd, telling reporters a cease-fire offer would be forthcoming.
It came after Turkey confirmed eight soldiers were missing after weekend clashes with the PKK near the Iraqi border killed at least 12 Turkish troops, ramping up public pressure on the government to take action. Amid rising tensions, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan assured an alarmed international community that Ankara would exhaust diplomatic efforts before resorting to military action.
“We will continue to exert these diplomatic and political efforts with good intention to resolve this crisis caused by a terrorist organization,” Babacan told reporters after talks in Kuwait.
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said he was expecting Babacan in Baghdad for crisis talks today. However, Babacan would not immediately confirm the visit. “I have had an intention to visit Baghdad for some time. But I do not confirm at the moment whether this visit will take place or when it will take place,” Babacan said on his return from Kuwait.
The United States has urged Erdogan to hold off on military action, but the prospect of Turkish soldiers being held captive is likely to turn up the heat on the government.
