Turkey to increase presence in N. IraqAugust 20, 2011 - 10:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey is preparing to take the fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to northern Iraq by turning outposts it has maintained for intelligence gathering there since 1995 into operational front garrisons, Today's Zaman reported. According to confidential sources talking about the August 18 National Security Council (MGK) meeting, chaired by President Abdullah Gül, the government has decided to restructure the troops it has deployed in the Bamerni, Batufa, Kanimasi and Dilmentepe outposts in Northern Iraq. The Bamerni garrison will be turned into a logistics center for supporting major operations to be conducted against the PKK militants in the region. Turkey maintains 2500 troops in Northern Iraq and they were deployed in 1995 with the permission of the Kurdish regional government. The Special Operations Command also has liaison offices in Süleymaniye and Arbil. The professional units from Şırnak province would be deployed in the region and the air support and bombing operations would continue. The government also plans to submit to parliament a renewal of a resolution that allows cross-border operations. The Turkish military have conducted over 25 cross-border operations so far, but they have been short-lived under pressure from allies and regional governments. Sources says that this time Turkey is determined to stay as long as needed “to finish off the threat of terrorism originating in Northern Iraq.” The MGK issued a written statement after a regular meeting, saying it would adopt a “more effective and decisive strategy in the fight against terrorism.” The statement did not elaborate on what those measures would be, but sources say the government would adopt a multilateral approach in tackling the PKK, from deploying professional units in and outside of Turkey to increased intelligence gathering on the ground. 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 | Police try to impede Armenian Church head’s access to war memorial Police tried to stop the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, from visiting a war memorial. Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. |