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‘Turkey values US intelligence but not hopeful on PKK extraditions’
“Terrorists are not usually extradited. There are many reasons why the problem of extradition has not been solved. We need to admit that terror is an international issue. Is it a mere coincidence that not even a single terrorist has been extradited to Turkey for years?” the minister asked.
Turkey has fought the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) since 1984, when it was set up with the goal of establishing an autonomous Kurdish state in the eastern and southeastern parts of Turkey. More than 40,000 soldiers and civilians have been killed in clashes thus far.
The PKK has been declared a terrorist organization by the international community, including the US and the EU.
The deputy prime minister also recalled a recent visit by Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani to Turkey. During the meeting, Turkish authorities presented a new report on the presence of the outlawed PKK in northern Iraq.
The report, drafted by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), describes how the PKK has taken steps to make its presence in the region permanent and seeks to inform both the US administration and the regional Kurdish administration of northern Iraq about the situation. However, neither the US nor the northern Iraqi administration is currently planning to take steps that would lead to the total eradication of the terrorist group’s regional presence, and it seems unlikely that either entity will go any farther than real-time intelligence sharing in this regard.
Çiçek also said Turkey attaches value to real-time intelligence sharing with the US on the PKK.
“Important talks will take place tomorrow at the level of foreign minister. We expect significant decisions to be made during the talks. We value American intelligence support for Turkey. Recent terrorist attacks do not suggest a failure in intelligence sharing between Turkey and the US. Recent attacks were not based in Iraq. We are not faced with northern Iraq-based terrorist attacks,” he added.
The deputy prime minister also said the recent increase in acts of terror aims to wear down the government ahead of the planned referendum on a constitutional amendment package, slated for Sept. 12.
“Terror is being used as a political instrument. Many states have used PKK terror against Turkey, and some continue to do so. Turkey is taking significant steps towards democratization, and the terrorist organization decides to launch more attacks. Why? Because the organization is intending to sabotage the referendum,” he remarked.
Çiçek also said the government had received intelligence that acts of terror would increase as the referendum approaches.
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