Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro
de la Prensa-Basm Özeti
Ecevit noted that he did not know how long the positioning of Turkish Armed Forces would continue in South
Kurdistan, and continued: "I don't know if it is 10 thousand soldiers, but of course Turkey is giving technical assistance,
because giving the Kurdistan Patriotic Union (PUK) technical assistance is mandatory from the respect of our
own security. Actually, the struggle over there is between Talabani's forces and the PKK. We are more giving technical
assistance to Talabani's and [KDP leader Massoud] Barzani's forces. They are carrying out their struggle, and we
are assisting them."
General Staff: There is no operation
On the other hand, General Staff made a statement asserting that there was no relation to the truth in the news that
"10 thousand Metmetcik [Turkish soldiers] have entered northern Iraq," as has been reported in a number of press
and broadcasting organs in Turkey.
In a written statement it released, the General Secretariat of the General Staff said that the news that 10 thousand
soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had entered South Kurdistan and were making preparations for a large
operation did not reflect the truth, noting that, "Even if [TSK armed forces] enter northern Iraq from time to time
because of isolated events, a force of that dimension is not present at this time." General Staff sources noted that seasonal
weather conditions were in any case not suitable for a possible operation. The statement from General Staff
noted that developments were being followed and said: "The news headlined "ID thousand Mehmetciks entered northern
Iraq" that appeared in some press-broadcasting organs on the dates of January 6 and 7, 2001 has no relation to
reality."
Ecevit: Kurdish TV is causing worries
Answering a question concerning the subject of Kurdish television, Prime Minister Ecevit asserted that "there are
some that feel concern about this." On the subject of Kurdish language television, Ecevit said, "There are some that
think this could take on a different meaning. And they cannot be considered wrong," adding that, "When the armed
struggle subsided, political separatism began to take the fore. Unfortunately, some Western countries are contributing
to this. And this is opening the path to a set of concerns in Turkey. If they leave us in peace, this will be solved
of its own accord. But they are insisting on not leaving it. From that regard, there can also be certain problems among
ourselves. We are going to try to resolve the problems through reconciliation to whatever extent possible."
Rival Kurdish factions hold peace talks after three year pause
AFP 9 Jan 2001
ANKARA, Jan 9 (AFP) -11h59 - The heads of the two Kurdish factions in control of the north of Iraq have met for
the first time in three years for peace talks, a spokesman for one of the groups said on Tuesday.
The meeting late Monday saw Massoud Barzani, head of the Democratic party of Kurdistan (PDK) and Jalal Talabani,
head of the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) face to face in Selahaddine, at PDK headquarters. The PDK spokesman
described the talks as constructive.
Later on Monday, Talabani left for meetings with Ankara. "We want to bolster our co-operation with Turkey,"
Talabani said before leaving for a meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and under-secretary for foreign affairs
Faruk Logoglu in the Turkish capital. "We, together with Ankara, want stability in the north of Iraq," Anatolia agency
reported Talabani as saying.
He added that he was seeking Turkey's support in relaunching the Ankara process - peace talks sponsored by the
United States, Britain and Turkey. The peace process stalled in September 1998 after Barzani and Talabani signed a
peace agreement in Washington to iron out their differences of opinion. Turkey denounced the agreement which it
complained was reached without its participation.
The region has been in conflict since the Iraqi part of Kurdistan slipped from the control of the Baghdad regime at
the end of the Gulf war in 1991. While the PUK now controls the eastern part of the area bordering Iran, the PDK's
stronghold is in the part of the region that borders on Turkey.
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