Axis of Counterterrorism: Turkey, U.S. and Iraq to Apply Pressure on PKK

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan made a voyage to the Oval Office yesterday to press President Bush to crack down more firmly on the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), which has been waging guerilla attacks on the Turkish government since 1984. Neither head-of-state mentioned the group by name, indicating the delicacy of the politics surrounding American, Turkish and Iraqi interactions, as well as those involving Syria and Iran, which also have substantial Kurdish minorities and a history of complex relations with the PKK.

The United States has lost face with the Turkish public for appearing to permit PKK activity in northern Iraq, while also proclaiming it will no longer tolerate states that give terrorist groups safe haven. Turkey recently threatened military action against PKK guerrillas, and there have been noises that Iran and Turkey may be preparing a joint campaign against Kurdish militants in Iraq. Last April, Iraq accused Iran of bombing Kurdish rebels on Iraqi territory.

Iraq has declared the PKK a terrorist organization. Nevertheless, Kurdish president Jalal Talabani expressed anger last week over perceived Turkish, as well as Syrian and Iranian, interference with Iraqi sovereignty, reiterating claims that Iraq would support "the opposition of other countries" – such as Kurdish separatists – should interference continue.

Under U.S. pressure, the Iraqi government announced in September its intention to shut down all PKK offices. Yesterday, the Iraqis appointed Shirwan al Walli, a Shiite minister, as a special envoy to combat PKK activitiy in Kurdish-majority northern Iraq. He joins Turkish and American counterparts. The three plan to meet in the near future.