Visiting Iraqi Vice President Tariq Al-Hashimi said in Ankara on Tuesday that Iraqi administration is ready to cooperate with Turkey in its fight against the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).

 

 

Al-Hashimi made the remarks at his meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish capital of Ankara, during which they discussed over the issue of PKK terrorist organization.

 

For his part, Erdogan said that Turkey respects Iraq's political unity and territorial integrity, adding that Turkey is also determined to take every type of measure against terrorist organization.

 

Stressing the importance of fighting against terrorism, Erdogan said that it is Turkey's legitimate right to restore national security as well as safety of its citizens.

 

Erdogan also strongly stressed Turkey's expectation from the US and Iraqi administration to take concrete steps to end activities of PKK in Iraq.

 

Al-Hashimi arrived in Ankara earlier on Tuesday for a working visit after the Turkish government submitted a motion for a cross-border operation against the PKK in Iraq to the Turkish parliament later on Monday.

 

Turkish government spokesman and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said Monday that the motion was only targeted at the PKK and it would be valid for one year.

 

Last Friday, Erdogan said that Turkey has long been seeking the cooperation with Iraq and the US in its fight against the PKK, but there has been no tangible crackdown on the rebels.

 

The PKK has increased its attacks on government troops in southeastern Turkey, which led to rising Turkish demands for an incursion into northern Iraq to crush the rebels based there.

 

The group, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU, launched an armed campaign for an ethnic homeland in the mainly Kurdish southeastern Turkey in 1984, sparking decades of strife that has claimed more than 30,000 lives.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2007)