PKK terrorist moves from northern Iraq condemned

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said yesterday that cross-border terrorist operations from northern Iraq are detrimental to the entire region calling for international action to stem such crimes.

Mottaki made the remarks in a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Walid Mouallem at the Syrian Foreign Ministry.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his Syrian counterpart Walid Mouallem on Monday condemned terrorist operations of Turkish Workers Party (PKK) against Turkey from northern Iraq. The two foreign ministers called for international cooperation to avert terrorist threats to Turkey.

"Iran condemns use of northern Iraqi territory as a launchpad for terrorist operations against Turkey and is fully prepared to combat terrorism at any place," Mottaki said.

Mouallem said that Syria advocates international campaign against terrorism and condemns cross-border terrorist operations against Turkey.

He referred to recent telephone conversation between President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad with his Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Premier Nouri-al Maliki and said cooperation between Iran and Syria in resolving the issue would help restore security in the region.

About a plan some US Senators on partitioning Iraq, he said Iran supports Iraqi national sovereignty and territorial integrity and the Iraqi democratic government as well.

Iran strongly condemns such a move in the US Senate, he said adding that a unified Iraq belongs to all Iraqi people and the identify of this Islamic and Arabic country should be preserved.

The Syrian foreign minister, for his part, referred to the current crisis in northern Iraq and said "Our brothers in Tehran are making efforts which is complementary to ours and the Syrian government calls for resolving Iraq-Turkey issue through political means." "Terrorist operations of Turkish Workers Party (PKK) in north of Iraq threatens Turkey also Iran and Syria," he said.

"That is why, we call for diplomatic efforts to help Turkish security while maintaining the security and independence of Iraq through mutual cooperation and efforts of government of Prime Minister Nouri-al-Maliki," Mouallem said.