Turkey expects a clear stance

ISTANBUL (AA)- November 4, 2011 - Davutoglu met with Massoud Barzani, the head of regional administration in north of Iraq, in Istanbul. After the meeting, Davutoglu said that Turkey expected the regional administration in north of Iraq to assume a clear stance against terrorist organization PKK. Davutoglu told reporters that they expected the regional administration in north of Iraq to support Turkey actively in its fight against terrorist organization harming Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood. "In the recent period, Turkey's relations with its Kurdish brothers in the north of Iraq gained a boost. We paid visits there. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a strong message that Turks and Kurds are brothers," he said. Acts by terrorist organization harmed not only Turkish and Kurdish people in Turkey but also Kurd brothers in the north of Iraq, he said. Davutoglu said that after 24 Turkish troops were killed in a terrorist attack in Cukurca town of southeastern province of Hakkari, Barzani called Erdogan by the phone to offer his condolences. He said that Turks and Kurds would live together as brothers and sisters. Davutoglu said he had a fruitful meeting with Barzani.
In his part, Barzani said that he was glad to be with his Turkish brothers.
Barzani said that they would exert every kind of effort to boost ties in the area of security with Turkey., stating that they attached a great importance to relations with Turkey Regional administration in the north of Iraq can not be impartial Turkey gave a message that regional administration in the north of Iraq could not be impartial now, diplomatic sources said. Diplomatic officials quoted Davutoglu as telling Barzani that Turkey welcomed the regional administration's offering its condolences to Turkey after the latest attack in Cukurca town in southeastern province of Hakkari and sending its official to Ankara. Davutoglu said these steps were right and positive, stating that this positive process should continue. Terrorist organization PKK prevented the positive process in the region, officials quoted Davutoglu as telling Barzani in the meeting, adding that terrorist organization was not only a threat for Turkey but also for the north of Iraq. Regional administration in the north of Iraq could not be impartial now, he said. Barzani's visit to Turkey ahead of Feast of Sacrifice was a positive message for Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood, Davutoglu said. Turkey asked for a more effective cooperation from the regional administration in fight against terrorism, he said. Diplomatic officials quoted Barzani as saying that presence of terrorist organization in the north of Iraq was against Iraqi constitution.