27.01.2005, 15:19
Turkey Ready to Intervene
Turkey's military is prepared to intervene if postelection clashes erupt in northern Iraq or if Iraqi Kurds try to form an independent state, a senior army general said Wednesday.
The statement by Gen. Ilker Basbug, who ranks second in the Turkish Army hierarchy, underscored Turkey's growing anxiety over Iraqi elections scheduled for Sunday.
In a news conference, the general said the military command was closely following events in the ethnically divided northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, which Iraq's Kurds are eager to control.
Turkey fears that the Kurds would exploit a political victory in Kirkuk elections to form their own state, precipitating a breakup of Iraq that could threaten Turkish security.
quelle:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/27/international/europe/27turkey.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/27/inter ... urkey.html</a><!-- m -->
Turkey's military is prepared to intervene if postelection clashes erupt in northern Iraq or if Iraqi Kurds try to form an independent state, a senior army general said Wednesday.
The statement by Gen. Ilker Basbug, who ranks second in the Turkish Army hierarchy, underscored Turkey's growing anxiety over Iraqi elections scheduled for Sunday.
In a news conference, the general said the military command was closely following events in the ethnically divided northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, which Iraq's Kurds are eager to control.
Turkey fears that the Kurds would exploit a political victory in Kirkuk elections to form their own state, precipitating a breakup of Iraq that could threaten Turkish security.
quelle:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/27/international/europe/27turkey.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/27/inter ... urkey.html</a><!-- m -->