Turkey hopes to combat Kurds with U.S. and Iraqi assistanceJune 22, 2007 - 16:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his government would authorize a military cross-border operation into northern Iraq to crack down on PKK terrorists if required."We are continuing discussions with the armed forces. If needed we will take the necessary steps (for a cross-border operation) because we cannot allow the PKK to carry out attacks any longer," Erdogan said in an interview aboard his plane during campaigning in eastern Turkey late on Tuesday, Cihan News Agency reports. Ankara, a key U.S. ally in NATO, wants Iraqi authorities and the United States to crack down on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which attacks targets inside Turkey from bases in mountainous, mainly Kurdish northern Iraq. Asked whether he believed Iraqi and U.S. authorities would honor promises to combat the PKK, Erdogan -- speaking via an interpreter -- gave a lukewarm response: "I wish to remain positive." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |