No shelter will be left for PKK in Iraq.

Outgoing U.S. Ambassador Robert Pearson who played a big role in Turco-American affairs, told Hurriyet’s Ankara Representative Sedat Ergin that the AKP government then-led by Abdullah Gul had promised to U.S. for the northern front , during the Iraqi crisis.

Pearson said that at a dinner he hosted on February 28, for numerous esteemed personalities and journalists, almost everyone had told that the Troops Permit was to be passed by Parliament the next day. After learning the rejection of the Permit next day, Pearson went to the Turkish Foreign Ministry voicing the dissapiontment of his country over the rejection but also said that US respected the decision of the Turkish Parliament and will act accordingly.

Pearson said he believed that the Turkish Government spent all the necessary efforts to have the Permit passed by Parliament and it was also shocked of this result.

The Ambassador went on to say that the Turkish Government had promised no U.S. in December 2002 that the Northern Front was to materialize and the U.S. acted on this assurance. Pearson added that the promise for the Northern Flank came from the government, not by Recep Tayyip Erdogan who was AKP’S Chairman at that time.
However Pearson sad that the Turkish Government had been honest and explained the possible difficulties in passing this Permit, to U.S.

Northern Iraq, Must not be a Fault Line

Describing the rejection of the Permit by Turkey as an earthquake, Pearson said that the thing to be done right now was to restructure the relations and continue them.

Stressing that Northern Iraq must not be a fault line in relations, Pearson said that all Southeastern, Eastern Anatolia and Northern Iraq were a single economic zone with the same transportation roads, communication channels, oil delivery, being an attractive route for transmission, especially because of its relatively cheaper freight.

Pearson underlined the importance for Turkey and U.S. to focus on a joint approach, which would be based on increasing Turkish investments, oil trade in northern Iraq, encouraging local trade and which would also bring prosperity to East and Southeast Anatolia. Describing Northern Iraq as the most stable region of Iraq, he said that both Turkey and Turkish companies will have a firmer basis as long as a firm step is taken in the region and the remaining parts fo Iraq become more stable.

However, Pearson said, he was worried that, if Turkey and U.S. had different views on the security of Northern Iraq, this would damage the joint trade and investment perspectives between the two countries and two regions. He said; I am a little bit worried of this. In my opinion,Northern Iraq must not be a fault line between Turkey and U.S.

Turkomans

Pearson said that they had no prejudice against the Iraqi Turkoman Front and all groups in the region were on equal basis, for U.S.

On PKK

Pearson said that they have never demanded the pull back of Turkish troops from Northern Iraq. Pledging to remove the PKK shelters in the region, he said that, U.S. wanted no PKK threat against Turkey, remaining in Iraq. He also informed of a strategy being developed by his country that aims to persuade PKK to surrender and otherwise to face the consequences. We shall work together with Turkey on the issue, he said.

However he said, news reports that U.S. had secret contacts with PKK and wanted to use it against Turkey, discouraged U.S. Pearson said; The U.S. and Turkish approach on this issue is common ; They will either surrender or face its alternative, which is, using military force.

He said; They are Turkish citizens not Iraqis. They must return home.

Suleymaniye

Pearson said that he regretted the Suleymaniye incident, which should never happen. He said; from now on we have to find a way to have our troops act in coordination.