Terrorism “cost of Turkish support for Syrian people”

The increased terror attacks in Turkey is the price for the country’s support for the ‘Syrian people,’ according to Iraq’s exiled vice president Tariq al-Hashemi.

Escalation in the terrorist activities of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey is to be expected, because of Turkey’s allying itself with the Syrian people against the al-Assad regime, fugitive Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi has said. “PKK terrorism is the cost Turkey is paying because of its alliance with the people, not with the regimes, of the region. I am expecting more attacks will be carried out by the PKK, because this is a pressure card played by the Syrian regime and supported by other regional forces to blackmail Turkey to stop its support for the people of this region,” al-Hashemi said, speaking to Hurriyet Daily News Aug. 30.

Asked if the Turkish government’s talks with the Kurdistan Regional Goverment (KRG) seeking greater cooperation on preventing PKK activities in northern Iraq would yield results, al-Hashemi said “The indirect approach is a waste of time.” “There is a political problem which is transferred into violence by the PKK. If we want to stop the violence, my humble advice would be to please open [the issue] directly with the people concerned. Don’t waste your time,” al-Hashemi said.

Al-Hashemi said he believed there was still room for the PKK to be convinced to lay down arms and stop the bloodshed in Turkey.

Published: 8/31/2012 http://trkne.ws/382787