US agree to build ‘communication channels’ against PKK

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan and U.S. President George W. Bush agreed Monday to establish an “operational coordination” system that will provide better communication to combat the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the prime ministry’s press office said yesterday.   Referring to the ErdoÄŸan-Bush meeting in the Oval Office, a statement released by the press office said the two countries displayed a common approach in the fight against terrorism and agreed during their talks to take urgent steps to tackle the problem. 

  It said Turkey and the United States agreed to strengthen communication channels between officials and to urgently share intelligence.

  The statement also added the “government’s determination to make use of the parliamentary authorization to take political, diplomatic and military steps in its struggle against PKK terrorism continues,” but did not elaborate. The Turkish Parliament last month authorized the government to launch a cross-border operation into northern Iraq to crack down on the PKK.

  Meanwhile President Abdullah Gül said it was the United States’ responsibility to deal with the PKK terror in northern Iraq.

  Gül said that his country has decided on how to proceed against the PKK in northern Iraq and had informed the United States, speaking to reporters yesterday before an official visit to Azerbaijan.

  But he did not specify what decision had been taken regarding an attack, but made clear that Turkey feels that the PKK is leading to instability in the region.

  “Iraq’s stability cannot be limited to fighting terrorism in Baghdad or other regions,” he said. “The terrorist organization in the north is also disrupting Iraq’s stability.”