Turkish Invasion of Iraq "Less Likely"

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Turkish Invasion of Iraq "Less Likely"
Deutsche Presse-Agentur | November 20, 2007


Turkey has shown "great restraint" in dealing with attacks on its soil carried out by Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) militants based in northern Iraq and the risk of a "major invasion" has diminished, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said in Brussels on Nov. 20.

Zebari was in Brussels to meet European Union officials in view of forging a trade and cooperation agreement between his country and the 27-member bloc.

Speaking ahead of a meeting planned for later on Tuesday with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Zebari said his government was "working closely with Turkey" to find "a reasonable solution" to the crisis.

Last week, Turkish tanks were seen moving towards the northern Iraqi borders to hunt down PKK militants while there were reports, later denied by Turkey, that Turkish warplanes have been carrying out air raids targeting villages south of the Turkish border in response to attacks that have killed a number of Turkish soldiers over the past weeks.

Zebari said that while problems remained, "the chances of a major invasion are less now."

The foreign minister said his government was engaged in ongoing dialogue with Turkey to avoid a full-scale invasion that would destabilise the region.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,156664,00.html