ANKARA -- At a press conference held in Ankara at the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), a spokesman for the TSK called the military build-up along Turkey's southeastern borders with Iraq "aimed at bolstering inner-security."
There was also an announcement made regarding the presence of the Turkish military inside the borders of Iraq:
"There is no secret regarding the presence of the TSK in Northern Iraq. We are not considering ending our activity there for as long as the PKK is also present and active in that area." At the briefing, it was also clarified to press members present that the presence of the TSK in Northern Iraq should be in no way confused with "operational activities."
The PKK terrorist organisation has camps in Northern Iraq and the organization has been using Northern Iraq as a base to attack Turkish targets and other neigbouring countries. According to the Turkish official documents Barzani and Talabani Groups allow the PKK activities. Turkish experts say that as far as the local Kurdish forces or the Baghdad cannot secure the borders, Turkish forces will fulfill this duty. Assoc.
Prof. Dr. Sedat Laciner from USAK (ISRO) argues that "one of the main responsibles in the recent PKK attacks is the Northern Iraq Kurdish rule. They do allow the PKK activities. Many PKK militants are freely join the elections, they freelly make propaganda, and they even can use armes against the Turkish targets or Turkmens".
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