ISTANBUL, 21 April 2005 — The head of the Turkish Army hit out at the United States yesterday for failing to curb Turkish Kurdish rebels hiding in northern Iraq and warned that Iraqi Kurdish attempts to take control of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk could throw the entire region into turmoil. Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, the chief of general staff, complained in a yearly evaluation speech here that Turkey’s outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) was gaining influence in northern Iraq and stepping up attacks across the border on Turkey because of US failure to take action against the rebels.
“The terror group has been included in the list of terrorist organizations by the United States and the European Union, but that does not carry a meaning in practice,” Ozkok said. “It is thought provoking that no action has been taken yet against the organization. The PKK must at any rate be deprived of foreign support and have its hope of success crushed,” he said.
Turkey says about 5,000 PKK militants have found refuge in the mountains of neighboring northern Iraq since 1999, when the group declared a unilateral ceasefire with Ankara in its armed campaign for self-rule in the country’s mainly Kurdish southeast. The group called off the truce last year, raising tensions in the region. Ozkok also expressed concern over attempts by Iraqi Kurds to seize the ethnically volatile city of Kirkuk, which, he said, with its large oil resources, should belong to all Iraqis and not just one ethnic group.
“That is why it is important for Kirkuk to have a special status,” Ozkok said. “We have said several times that Kirkuk is a problem area ready to explode ... and that it would affect the entire region if it explodes.” Turkey suspects Iraqi Kurds of planning to capitalize on their post-war gains to make Kirkuk the capital of an independent Kurdish state. Such a state, Ankara fears, would fuel separatism among the restive Kurds of adjoining southeastern Turkey, sparking regional turmoil.
Ozkok also signaled the army would not pull back forces from the divided island of Cyprus despite suggestions this could help revive stalled peace talks between Turkish- and Greek-Cypriots. Ozkok said Turkey would not succumb to European Union pressure in its battle against Kurdish separatism, which the bloc has often criticized as damaging human rights.
“It is unjust to still expect Turkey to make a gesture (on Cyprus) when promises to end the isolation of northern Cyprus have been abandoned,” Ozkok told Istanbul’s military academy.
Ozkok repeated the military establishment’s support in principle for Turkey’s EU membership, but not at any price. “It is in Turkey’s fundamental interests to be a member of the EU. But it is very wrong for the EU to see this as a favor to us,” said Ozkok, widely seen as a moderate in the military. “If there is no agreement, if Turkey does not enter the EU, it does not mean the end of the world,” he added.
Ozkok called on neighboring Armenia to drop allegations that Turks committed genocide against Armenians during World War I and work towards improving bilateral ties. “Turkey wants to normalize its ties with Armenia,” Ozkok said. “But for this to happen, Armenia must abide by international law and fulfill the obligations of good neighborly relations.” His call came just days before Armenians prepared to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the massacres.
