US, Turkey discuss new action plan against PKK

The United States may offer Turkey more help with equipment and intelligence to combat the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, currently based in northern Iraq, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said this weekend.

“I offered during my visit here … to see if there are more capabilities that we can share with Turkey in terms of taking on this threat,” he said at a Saturday press conference in Ankara following his talks. Gates visited the Turkish capital and held meetings with his Turkish counterpart, Vecdi Gönül, and Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ following a NATO summit in Istanbul on Friday.

Washington decided to provide “significant intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capacities and other equipment” to Ankara to back up its efforts to eradicate the outlawed group in 2007.

Gates said Gen. Ray Odierno, the U.S.’s top officer in Iraq, discussed an “action plan” on possible further assistance with Turkish officials when he visited Ankara earlier this week. “I think what we are seeing is a further intensification of the cooperation in an effort to deal with this threat,” according to Gates.

In 2008, Turkey, the U.S. and Iraq established a trilateral committee to enact measures against the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and much of the international community.

Along with the military measures, the Turkish government announced a series of steps to grant more cultural rights to Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin with the hope of ending the PKK’s terrorist activities.

Providing details of the Başbuğ meeting to the media, Gates said, “I would also say, as the general told me, the ultimate solution to this is simply not killing everybody.”

Although the government’s recent Kurdish initiative has faltered due to a ban on the country's main pro-Kurdish party, street protests and PKK violence, Ankara has vowed to push ahead with its reforms.

Gates said Washington was also urging northern Iraq to do its share in curbing PKK terrorists. "I met with President [Massoud] Barzani of the Kurdish Regional Government in Washington last week and we talked about the importance of [northern Iraq] putting pressure on the PKK to abandon violence as a political tool," he said.

Iran on the agenda

Gates said he has attempted to point out to Turkey and other allies in the region the threat posed by Iran. “Iran is the only country in the region that has publicly declared its intent to destroy another country in the region," he said. If Iran is not restrained in its nuclear program, there is a "real danger of proliferation" that would destabilize region, he said.

Among the other topics discussed this week was Turkey's potential role in NATO missile-defense systems based in Europe that would help reduce the Iranian threat, according to U.S. officials.

The U.S believes Turkey can play a vital role in the effort because of its close geographical location and cultural ties to the region.

When asked how Turkey might contribute to overcoming the Iranian problem, Gates said: “First of all, I think Turkey is a valuable interlocutor when it comes to Iran. I think that it is important they speak to the Iranians in a way that is difficult for us. So, I think that there are potential opportunities there.”

Gates also highlighted the need for a common understanding of the international community’s concern for Iran’s ongoing programs. “I have the impression that there is that understanding here in Turkey. We will continue to work with them going forward.”

Gates also told reporters that if Iran were serious about handing over its uranium it would be presently working with the International Atomic Energy Agency. “The reality is they've done nothing to assure the international community [or] to stop their progress toward [building] a nuclear weapon,” he said. “And, therefore, various nations need to think about whether it is time for a different tack.”

Radar systems

Gates also said he had discussions with Turkish representatives about the country’s participations in a planned radar system.

Stepping into a debate on whether Turkey is shifting its foreign policy eastward with its diplomatic initiatives, especially in the Middle East, Gates said: “I think that Turkey is in a unique position. It is a member of the NATO alliance and is the southeastern anchor of the alliance. It is geographically located in the Middle East but also in Central Asia.”

Arguing that Turkey is in a good geographical position to work with various parties on various issues, Gates said: “It has special access in a sense of a place at the table, if you will, from Europe to Central Asia to the Middle East. I think that Turkey’s taking that on and playing a constructive role in all of those areas is a very positive thing.”