World
Iraqi delegation heads for Turkey to solve PKK crisis
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Source: CCTV.com | 10-26-2007 09:39
Special Report: Iraq in Transition |
Iraq's Defence Minister General Abdel Qader Jassim (C) and National Security Minister Shirwan al-Waili (R) leave the Esenboga Airport upon their arrival in Ankara October 25, 2007. An Iraqi team, led by Jassim and including members of northern Iraq's Kurdish administration, arrived in Ankara for talks which Turkish officials described as a last chance for diplomacy.(Reuters)
A high-level Iraqi delegation is visiting Turkey to discuss steps the two countries can take to ease tensions along their borders, caused by violence from Kurdish Workers' Party rebels.
The delegation is led by Iraqi Defense Minister Abdul-Qader al-Obeidi and Security Minister Shirwan al-Waili. It also includes a representative from Iraq's Kurdistan Democratic Party. The Iraqis see the visit as a last ditch attempt to assure Turkey they are ready to clamp down on the PKK rebels in northern Iraq.
Turkey warns, the visit will be meaningless unless the Iraqis are able to "come up with concrete proposals." The Iraqi government has already promised to shut down offices used by the PKK rebels, but Turkey is suspicious of how far the Iraqis will go.
