After Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and Turkish Chief of Staff Yaşar Güler visited Baghdad and Hewlêr in Iraq last week, assaults and bombings were carried out on Kobani and Tall Rifat (Til Rifat). Kurdistan Democratic Party-Syria (PDK-S) Secretariat General Cemal Şêx Baqî believes that Turkey could not achieve its aims with the Iraq visits, and has therefore resorted to military pressure.
Explaining that Turkey’s actions were intentional, Baqi said, “Akar’s visit was not an ordinary visit. Assaults against Northern Iraq (the region where Kurdistan Workers’ Party forces are located), plus the Sinjar agreement and the attack preparations in North East Syria, were the reasons for the visit. Pressure was put on Iraqi Prime Minister Kazimî for the Sinjar agreement to be signed. The aim is to encircle North and East Syria”.
‘They aim to remove the Autonomous Administration’
According to a report by Hawar News, Baqî drew attention to the agreement signed among Russia, Damascus and Turkey, saying the Autonomous Administration was forced to accept that plan. “Turkey aims to advance the National Pact [Misak-ı Milli] by taking part in Sinjar”, said Baqî. “Russia also aims to secure an agreement to be signed between Turkey and the Damascus government. All have a common mission, which is the removal of the Autonomous Administration. Russia aims to bring Turkey and Damascus together for that common goal. However, Turkey’s best card is so-called ‘opposition’. And that card loses its power day by day. Turkey’s ultimate aim is to occupy the whole of Kurdistan”.
‘Biden’s administration will be different from Trump’s’
Baqî said the visits did not lead to the results expected by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. “They are trying to constitute a new situation before the newly elected US president takes office. Joe Biden’s administration will be different from Donald Trump’s administration”.
Baqî said agreeing with Kazımi was not enough; Iraq’s parliament and presidency had to be persuaded. Explaining that the head of the Iraqi government was not the sole decision maker for Iraqi policies, Baqî said, “That shows that Akar could not get results in Iraq. Erdoğan, who could not achieve his aim, began to threaten. He tries to put pressure on Iraq via those threats. They know well that they cannot occupy Sinjar with only the approval of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. Iraq has to support them, otherwise they cannot make such an attempt”. Baqî added that recents assaults carried out against Kobani and Tall Rifat were Turkey’s way of sending a message.
