Turkey awaits Iraq to designate PKK as terrorists: FM
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey is looking forward to Iraq designating the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Sunday in Baghdad, days after two Iraqi border guards were killed near the Turkish border.
“We look forward to Iraq designating the PKK as a terrorist organization,” Fidan said in a joint presser with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein during a trip to Baghdad.
On Friday, an altercation in Duhok province led to the deaths of two Iraqi border guards. Baghdad and Ankara blamed the PKK but the PKK blamed Turkey.
“I express my condolences to the martyrs of Iraq, who died at the hands of the terrorist PKK,” Fidan affirmed.
Iraq’s interior minister blamed “terrorist elements belonging to the banned PKK organization.”
It is unusual for Iraqi officials to use the word “terrorists” in connection with the PKK. Baghdad has not designated the Kurdish armed group a terrorist organization despite pressure from Ankara.
The Iraqi government did, however, ban the group last year ahead of a landmark visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that was followed by agreements in a range of areas, including security and anti-PKK operations.
Founded in 1978, the PKK initially called for the establishment of an independent Kurdistan but now calls for autonomy. The group is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey. It has bases in the Kurdistan Region’s mountains.
During his visit, Fidan is also set to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
“We look forward to Iraq designating the PKK as a terrorist organization,” Fidan said in a joint presser with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein during a trip to Baghdad.
On Friday, an altercation in Duhok province led to the deaths of two Iraqi border guards. Baghdad and Ankara blamed the PKK but the PKK blamed Turkey.
“I express my condolences to the martyrs of Iraq, who died at the hands of the terrorist PKK,” Fidan affirmed.
Iraq’s interior minister blamed “terrorist elements belonging to the banned PKK organization.”
It is unusual for Iraqi officials to use the word “terrorists” in connection with the PKK. Baghdad has not designated the Kurdish armed group a terrorist organization despite pressure from Ankara.
The Iraqi government did, however, ban the group last year ahead of a landmark visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that was followed by agreements in a range of areas, including security and anti-PKK operations.
Founded in 1978, the PKK initially called for the establishment of an independent Kurdistan but now calls for autonomy. The group is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey. It has bases in the Kurdistan Region’s mountains.
During his visit, Fidan is also set to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.