Revue <strong>de</strong> Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro <strong>de</strong> la Prensa-Basm Öz<strong>et</strong>i According to Salar Doski, a PUK representative in Canada, the new PUK prime minister will be Dr Barham Saleh and he has been asked to form a new cabin<strong>et</strong>. Dr Salih has served as the director of the PUK bureau of international relations in Washington and has been representllg PUK in the Washington Peace negotiations b<strong>et</strong>ween PUK and KDP:In ffie~past DrSIililYhas been an advocafe of-Kurdish in<strong>de</strong>pen-<strong>de</strong>nce and-he-was famous-forhis stance against Turkey in Washington negotiations, resisting fighting PKK alongsi<strong>de</strong> Turkey. Kurdish observers see the appointment of Dr Saleh as another sign of the ongoing struggle insi<strong>de</strong> PUK for party lea<strong>de</strong>rship. The move by Talabani has angered Fereidun Abdul Qa<strong>de</strong>r, another high ranking PUK official, who has prepared himself for the post. The scrambling for power in PUK has further increased following Talabani's recent move in taking his son Bafil Talabani to Ankara. "Talabani is now grooming his new prince for power" commented a Kurdish observer. .' .\ UPI - 18 January 2001 11:14 (ET) By DERK KINNANE ROELOFSMA Turk, Iranian rivalry in Iraq WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Rival Turkish and Iranian intervention in northern Iraq is continuing and appears more intense than previously believed, according to reports from the region received by United Press International. The focus of their rivalry is a shooting conflict b<strong>et</strong>ween the Turk~y-backed Patriotic Union of Kurdistan that controls one part of the Iraqi north and the intruding Marxist, Iran-backed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Earlier this year, the Turkish army and air force ma<strong>de</strong> an incursion into the Iraqi si<strong>de</strong> of the common bor<strong>de</strong>r to attack PKK forces based there. Last December, the army moved units accompanied by artillery nearly 200 miles into Iraq to support the PUK. Turkish forces are reported to have remained <strong>de</strong>ep in Iraq. A PUK official estimated the number of Turkish troops that arrived in December at about 700. Earlier reports put the figure at 10,000. Significantly, the PUK's rival for power in Iraqi Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Democratic party, did not object to Turkish forces crossing its temtory that adjoins Turkey, on their way to the PUK area that bor<strong>de</strong>rs Iran. PKK forces moved into Iran and Iraq after annoUncing they were withdrawing from Turkey in September 1999. The Turkish military put the number who crossed over into the Iraq-Iran region at about 5,000. Un<strong>de</strong>r the lea<strong>de</strong>rship of Abdullah Ocalan, now in a Turkish prison un<strong>de</strong>r sentence of <strong>de</strong>ath, the PKK conducted a IS-year insurgency that Turkish sources said cost 37,000 lives and <strong>de</strong>solated much of southeastern Turkey. Iran helped the PKK entrench itself at the northern end of the Qandil mountains that rise along the Iraqi-Iranian frontier behind the town of Ranyia, Iraq. From their positions, the PKK could threaten Raniya and Qalat Diza, Iraq, both situated on the road to the important Kurdish city of Sulaimani, Iraq, the seat of the PUK that is led by Jalal Tàlabani. When fighting broke out, Iran <strong>de</strong>man<strong>de</strong>d the PUK cease operations against the PKK, claiming it could not tolerate fighting on its frontier. Last week, a large Iranian <strong>de</strong>legation went to Sulaimani for talks with Talabani. Iran is also believed to be involved with small Kurdish factions around Halabja, Iraq. That town was brought to world attention in 1988 when its resi<strong>de</strong>nts were wiped out in a poison gas attacked mounted by the regime of Presi<strong>de</strong>nt Saddam Hussein. Fighting b<strong>et</strong>ween the PUK and PKK began when Ocalan's group tried to move down into the valley. Loc"alresi<strong>de</strong>nts complained of the PKK appropriating supplies from farmers and otherwise behaving like an occupation force. Most people in the region view the PKK as a Turkish movement, sympathizing with its struggle in Turkey for Kurdish rights, but con<strong>de</strong>mning its involvement in northern Iraq. As would be expected, winter has brought a suspension of hostilities, raising the question of what the PKK will choose to do when the spring comes. The PUK and KDP share control of the territory of a Kurdistan Regional Government that emerged in the safe haven established by the United States in 1991 after Iraq repressed a Kurdish uprising. The U.S. and British air forces enforce a no-fly zone for Iraqi aircraft to protect the area. The Turkish government has <strong>de</strong>veloped working relations with the Iraqi Kurds <strong>de</strong>spite its suspicion that an in<strong>de</strong>pen<strong>de</strong>nt Kurdish state might arise in northern Iraq, <strong>de</strong>stabilizing its own Kurdish area. Russia and Iran, which both regard Turkeyas a political and strategic rival, support the PKK as a <strong>de</strong>stabilizing element. The PKK runs recruiting operations in Russia and has been allowed bases in Iran. 72
Revue <strong>de</strong> Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro <strong>de</strong> la Prensa-Basm ()z<strong>et</strong>i Saddam Hussein, lOans apres;.:' ,
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