Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend S.Ilhamgizi / The Deputy Chairman of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Head of the Turkish delegation to NATO, Vahid Erdem , stated in his exclusive interview with Trend that at any time, Turkey may make a decision to begin military actions on the territory of Iraq to annihilate the base of the terrorist organizations of the Kurd Working Party.
The Chairman of the Security Commission of the ruling Justice and Development Party of Turkey, MP Vahid Erdem , said that, presently Turkey is taking measures to ensure security on its borders with Iraq. According to him, orders for entering into the Iraqi territory and carrying out serious operations have not yet been given. However, Turkey maintains control over the situation on the border with Iraq and the Turkish Army is prepared for battle.
"The measures taken on the border with Iraq are not aimed at only ensuring own security, but also if necessary, carrying out military operations. If it is high time, the Turkish Parliament will make a decision to begin military actions. The 22nd of July is the date of the parliamentary elections and the decision may be made by both the newly formed Parliament and the old Parliament, according to the law, until the election of the new Parliament, the old Parliament holds its authorities. Therefore, despite that the members of the Parliament are on holiday, an extraordinary meeting may be held to make a decision to commence military actions," Erdem said.
According to the Deputy, presently three regions of Turkey, Siit , Hakkary and Shirnak , have been announced as emergency regions in the Country and serious operations are carried out there to liquidate terror dens of the Kurd Working Party.
" Turkey does not fight against Kurds, but against separatists and terrorists. There are many Kurds who are Turkish citizens and protest against racism and terrorism," Erdem said.
In addition, he stressed that Turkey, as a member of NATO, will receive support from the organization in the fight against terrorism. Taking into consideration that NATO is a military-defense union, Erdem recalled that after the September 11th incidents in the USA, NATO made a decision to fight against terrorism. "The terror committed against the USA is accepted as a threat against all NATO member-countries. Presently a terror threat exists over Turkey. We need military support, but NATO should support the actions aimed at liquidating the organizations financing PKK," said the Head of the Turkish delegation to NATO.