Jan 11, 2001
Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Satisfied with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) efforts to eliminate the
separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in territories the Iraqi Kurdish party
controls in northern Iraq, Ankara has pledged assistance to PUK leader Jalal
Talabani.

According to Turkish sources, Talabani, who was received by Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit yesterday and over the past two days met with the Foreign Ministry and other
top civilian and military officials, asked for more trade between Turkey and northern
Iraq and Turkey has pledged to do whatever possible under current international
conjecture.

The sources underlined that Ankara was particularly satisfied with the anti-PKK drive
of Talabani and his PUK in northern Iraq and wanted the PUK operation against the
PKK continued.

Both Turkish and PUK sources, meanwhile denied claims that Talabani asked Ankara's
military assistance to drive the PKK out from the territories under its control in
northern Iraq.

Sources said talks mainly concentrated on increased economic cooperation and there
was "full understanding" between Talabani and Turkish officials on that issue.

Prime Minister Ecevit said Turkey was providing technical support to Iraqi Kurds for
its own security. Talabani told a Turkish television news channel that Turkish aid was
limited only to food and medical help to villagers there.

Meanwhile, Talabani told television channel CNN-Turk he met with rival Iraqi
Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Mesoud Barzani before coming to Turkey and the
two agreed to improve dialogue and conditions under the Washington deal.

"It is as if there is a cease fire between us," Talabani said in a description of ties with
Baghdad.

Turkey allows U.S. and British military aircraft to use an air base to patrol northern
Iraq's no-fly zone. In return, Turkish forces regularly cross the border to pursue PKK
guerrillas with little Western opposition.

The PKK has largely withdrawn from Turkey to northern Iraq and Iran since late 1999
following orders from its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Talabani said as many as 8,000 PKK terrorists were now in northern Iraq.

Besides Turkish officials, Talabani also met Wednesday with a number of Western
diplomats.
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The Kurdistan Observer
www.kurdistanobserver.com