US on Turkish incursion into Iraq, Kurd oil issue
Iraq-Turkey-USA, Politics, 10/16/2007

Regarding the talk of Turkish incursion into northern Iraq, US Department Of State Tom Casey said today that that the US main concern is that unilateral military action isn't the way to deal with the threat posed by the Kurdish group PKK.

He said "We've counseled our friends in Turkey to exercise restraint. We're very pleased that so far they have, in fact, done so. And of course, we have also encouraged them to continue discussions with the Iraqis and with us on this issue, because we believe very firmly that the way to resolve it and the way to really make progress in the fight against PKK terrorism is for there to be cooperative action. I would note that there is an Iraqi emissary, Vice President Al-Hashimi, who is in Ankara today and who is discussing a number of these issues with the Turkish Government. And we think that's a good thing as well. Certainly, we want to see conversations between the Iraqi Government and Turkish officials continue."

He added that "I think it's clear to everyone that unilateral action is not going to be a way to really address the problem that is at the heart of this, which is the threat posed to Turkey by the PKK... I think the biggest concern is for the strategic stability of Iraq and for the stability of Turkey. I, frankly, will leave it to those that actually follow the oil markets and the economy to make pronouncements on that. I am loathe to try and get into anything from here, particularly given the fact that these are issues that there are a lot of other people around town that follow more closely than we do."

Casey said "Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Dan Fried and Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman had just departed Turkey, I believe yesterday, in order to have consultations there with Turkish officials. So nothing new at senior levels. Of course, our Ambassador Ross Wilson and his team continue to engage with Turkish officials there. Again, I think we've put forward a very clear message to the Turkish Government about our regret about the passage of the resolution, about our continued opposition to it and our desire to work with members of Congress to make sure that it's ultimately defeated when it comes to the House floor."

Casey was asked that the US had repeatedly said that "the PKK issue is a matter between Turkey and Iraq. Why not with the US too since you have thousand of forces in the Iraqi territory?" to which he replied "Turkey and Iraq are neighbors. They're going to be neighbors for a long time and they need to work out a way of managing their relations to the benefit of both countries. I've certainly never said that the United States is not involved in this issue. We are. We are obviously concerned about the relations between those two countries. We consider the PKK a terrorist organization and we want to do everything we can, working with both the Turks and the Iraqis, to deal with this problem."

Asked about the main difficulty to arrest some PKK leaders for US or Iraqi Government and Why isn't it done although many discussions and talks having done about this issue, Casey said " if this were a problem that were easily solved or that we could simply resolve quickly, we would have done it by now. This is a difficult issue. You do have a terrorist organization that's operating along a border area. Certainly, we think that everyone can and should do more to be able to address this. That's part of the reason why we want to have close coordination with the Iraqis and the Turks on this. But obviously, this is an issue of great concern. It's an issue of great concern for all of us. And that's why we need to make sure that we move forward together because the only result of a unilateral action will probably be to allow the PKK to continue to operate, rather than putting them out of business, which is the goal that everyone shares."

Casey said about a possible Turkish invasion and Ankara's complaint of the US not using immediately military action against the PKK that "I think from senior levels of the Turkish Government we have been told that if the resolution passes this will have an impact on our bilateral relationship. I don't think that anyone has detailed in any specific degree what that might mean, but we do take from the Turks the understanding that they are seriously concerned about this and that if that resolution does pass there will be consequences for US-Turkish relations. What form that will take, I think is something that the Turks have not articulated in a very specific way, but I think it's pretty clear given their public statements as well as their private conversations with us that there will be an impact ... I think this is something where everyone needs to work together on. And Iraq is a sovereign country and I think their government has spoken to the question of what they can and they are able to do in terms of police or military actions. I'd leave that to them, as well as to our commanders in the field. But certainly we want to see the PKK be kept from being able to operate. And again, it's a terrorist organization. It's recognized as such. And the only thing you want to see a terrorist organization do is go out of business."

About a trilateral mechanism of Turkey, Iraq, US, Casey said "there continues to be discussions among the different parties. I'd have to check and see at what level we last met jointly together. But we do have coordination between and among the three sides. And in a sense, I would put that as similar to some of the things we've done with trilateral mechanisms in other places wherein you have a border area that has problems for both countries involved and they are, of course, principally the ones that need to be in discussions. But we are also a player and also supportive of it. So I know there've been conversations recently. I just am not sure at what particular level... the US point person on that includes Under Secretary Burns, it includes Ambassador Wilson and it includes Assistant Secretary Fried, it includes Under Secretary of Defense Edelman, all of whom have been actively engaged in discussing this issue with Turkish officials in the last week or so."

Meantime, Casey was asked about the Kurds having signed quite a few oil supply deals, which are outside of the Iraqi oil sector legislation, and if this sets a bad precedent as far as the US is concerned, signing contracts with the Kurds when the oil law still hasn't been drawn up, to which he said "I'm happy to repeat what I've said, which is that US policy has been and remains to urge all parties to refrain from actions that would hinder progress towards the passage of a national oil law, a national revenue sharing law. And that means that we certainly are discouraging individuals and companies as well as the government of Kurdistan, the regional government of the Kurdish region to engage in these kinds of contracts. It's a little hard to understand how this will contribute to the development of that national oil law and that national revenue sharing law, all of which are an essential part of the broader issue of national reconciliation. So we've been quite clear, both with the KRG, the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, as well as with private companies, including Hunt Oil, about what US policy is on this. And certainly we don't think that these kinds of deals are helpful either for producing ultimately the oil law that's required or for the benefit of the Iraqi people."

Asked "So when you say that you've been quite clear with Hunt and there's another company, I think called Impulse Energy, what have you actually said to them? Have you said if you do this, we're what?" Casey said "Hunt Oil has been advised of US policy, urging companies not to sign oil contracts with the Kurdistan Regional Government until a national oil law is passed, as well as the potential political and legal risks inherent in such a contract. Now, the company decided to sign a contract regardless of our advice, but that is their decision. They're not a US Government entity and they're allowed to make those calls. But again, it's our best advice to anyone that asks us that they not take these actions... Hunt Oil went and signed a contract with the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq. So whatever they might or might not have said, when they heard our opinion, they clearly made their own choice on this matter. But it's certainly not one we support."

Casey said "We don't think it's helpful in terms of seeing a national law, oil law get passed. It may be a complicating factor for that. There are inherent legal risks. Well, what are they? Well, a national Iraqi oil law would obviously supersede a Kurdish Regional Government law. Pretty hard to say until a national law has passed what conflict there might be with that. But people could find themselves having signed agreements that basically will have no legal standing, once a national oil law is passed or may get involved in some kind of very complicated legal wrangling between the regional and national government. So I think those are -- would be my layman's version of what the legal risks are here. But clearly, there is a situation where any national legislation will trump regional legislation. And if there's conflicts there, the national law would presumably be the one that would (inaudible) out and you know, that certainly presents a legal risk for anybody trying to do business under the terms of this limited regional government law."

Previous Stories:
  European Court says PKK can challenge inclusion in EU terror list   (1/20/2007)
  US Calls on Kurdish group to stop terrorist acts   (8/16/2006)
  US Calls on Kurdish group to stop terrorist acts   (8/16/2006)
  Turkish FM: Iraq neighboring countries should show solidarity   (7/8/2006)
  US says it cooperates with Turkey against Kurdish PKK   (5/25/2006)
  Rice in Turkey with Iraq and Iran in mind   (4/25/2006)

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