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Turkey shifts gears to beat PKK

DUBAI: Without giving up the option of using force, Turkey has restarted direct talks with Iraqi Kurds to weaken the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Turkish special envoy to Iraq Murat Ozcelik and Ahmet Davutoglu, chief foreign policy adviser of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, met on Tuesday President of the Kurdistan regional government (KRG) Massoud Barzani. Analysts point out that the meeting, which took place in Baghdad, marks a significant shift in Turkish policy towards KRG, arguably the most influential player in Iraqi Kurdistan. Relations between Turkey and Iraqi Kurds had turned frosty after the Americans invaded Iraq in 2003, amid allegations that the KRG had begun rendering covert support to PKK separatists. Iraqi Kurdish officials and the Turks had last met in 2004.

Tuesday’s talks have been preceded by a decision by Turkish Parliament to permit Turkish forces to launch cross border raids into northern Iraq that target the PKK for another 12 months. Turkish jets have also been bombarding PKK strongholds on a regular basis.

Turkey’s decision to reengage KRG follows careful preparations. Mr. Ozcelik had first travelled to northern Iraq on March 28 to meet Governor of Dohuk province and Safeen Dizayee, External Affairs Director of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The KDP is one of the main constituents of the KRG. The Turkish National Security Council (NSC) issued a statement on April 24 saying “consultations with all Iraqi groups and groupings” would benefit Turkey.

Observers say it is significant that Turkish authorities have decided not to give up diplomacy, despite recent provocations by the PKK.

On October 3, the PKK killed 17 Turkish soldiers during an attack on a post close to the Turkish-Iraqi border. Six more died on October 8 following an ambush on a bus carrying police personnel in the city of Diyarbakir.

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