Iraqi PM El Maliki calls PM Erdogan, urges for more patience from Ankara
Güncelleme Tarihi:
With Iraqi Vice President Tariq Hashimi newly departed from high level meetings in Ankara regarding Turkish plans for a possible over the border operation into northern Iraq, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri El Maliki has telephoned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to relay the Baghdad administration's desire to work in cooperation with Ankara against PKK terror forces hiding in northern Iraq.
El Maliki's call comes just hours before the Turkish Parliament is expected to make its final decision on a motion which would grant military troops permission to pursue and strike PKK terrorists in northern Iraqi territories.
Prime Minister El Maliki reportedly told Prime Minister Erdogan on the phone that the Baghdad administration was "determined" to see the end of PKK activities, which have spiked in recent weeks, and that the central Iraqi government had given orders to the regional authority in northern Iraq on this matter.
The Iraqi PM also told Erdogan that Baghdad wanted to form a new delegation devoted soley to this matter, saying "Let's do whatever is necessary, but together. If necessary, we will carry out a joint military operation against the PKK." Erdogan, for his part, reportedly underscored to El Maliki the urgency of the matter, noting that while he would agree to meet with a delegation from Baghdad, he was not willing to allow more time to pass before action was taken.