LOC18:41
15:41 GMT
ANKARA, Oct 13 (KUNA) -- The presence of Kurdish rebels in north Iraq is
"illegitimate", the visiting Iraqi foreign minister said on Thursday.
"The presence of PKK elements in mountainous areas is not legitimate under
the Iraqi Constitution," Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told a joint
news conference with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu during an
official visit to Turkey.
"This is unacceptable," he said.
But the problem of the Kurdistan Workers' Party could only be resolved
through "good neighbourly relations" between Turkey and Iraq, he added.
Ankara has repeatedly urged the Iraqi government not to allow its territory
to be used as a springboard by the PKK for attacks in Turkey.
For his part, the Turkish foreign minister said: "We no longer have any
patience with terrorist activities emanating from the Iraqi territory and
threatening Turkey."
"We are determined to take the most effective measures," he warned.
Davutoglu said: "If Iraq is able to militarily control its own territory
and prevent the terror threat targeting Turkey, then there will be no need for
any cross-border operation."
The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Ankara and much of the
international community, took up arms in Kurdish-majority southeast Turkey in
1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed about 45,000 lives. (end)
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