Statements by U.S. Officials

Ambassador David Satterfield, Coordinator for Iraq, Interview with Murat Celik, Star TV

Ankara (March 31, 2008)

Star TV:  Mr. Satterfield, welcome to Turkey and welcome to Star TV.

Ambassador Satterfield:  Thank you.

Star TV:  So your last visit, if I’m not wrong, was in January to Turkey. So the timing was interesting because you know the Turkish ground operation to northern Iraq started just after your visit.  So I think it will not be speculative to guess that the ground operation was on the table during your visit.  Am I right?

Ambassador Satterfield:  The decisions to undertake the operation, as well as the decision to bring the operation to a close, were decisions of the Turkish General Staff and the Turkish government.  They were not decisions which were briefed to us in advance.  No.

Star TV:  What about other views in the administration?

Ambassador Satterfield:  Well, obviously we support Turkey’s right to defend itself against PKK terror.  We view our cooperation with the Turkish government and with the Turkish military as extremely important in ensuring that this fight moves forward in as efficient and effective a manner as possible.  At the same time we have asked the Turkish government to keep in mind that the impact of its actions on stability and security in Iraq as a whole.  This is of critical interest for the government of Turkey as well as the government of the U.S.

Star TV:  The U.S. has been insisting on launching different measures for the fight against PKK terrorism.  How do you comment on the Turkish attitude at this point? For example, what’s your recommendation when you speak about concrete measures?

Ambassador Satterfield:  The Turkish government and my government are in agreement that a definitive resolution to the PKK terror threat will require a comprehensive approach.  A comprehensive approach includes military steps but also includes social, economic and political measures as well.  This is our common position.  It is important that progress be made on all of these fronts.  In order to achieve what is our common goal, to bring an end to the threat posed to Turkey, to the threat posed to Iraq, indeed the threat posed to the Kurdish regional government by the existence of the PKK terror group.

Star TV:  In Turkey also, everybody is talking about this approach.  The social and economic things but are you satisfied for example of Turkish government’s attitude or point at this moment?

Ambassador Satterfield:  The Turkish government has a position that such measures be undertaken.  And I would leave it to the Turkish government to determine the pace and the substance of how it moves on these various fronts.  But the understanding that a comprehensive approach includes but goes beyond simple military steps will be necessary.  

Star TV:  Ok.  You said that not only the military side of course but Turkish General Staff declared that ‘ok, we made the ground operation, we can repeat it if we need it’ and the air attacks are still going on.  So, maybe unfortunately but it’s going on military side still.  Will you be patient on this?

Ambassador Satterfield:  Again, the Turkish government and the Turkish General Staff as well have affirmed their view that a comprehensive approach will be required and we would certainly expect to see progress on those other aspects, not just the military but the social, the economic, the political steps that will be necessary.  And those were steps that really need to be undertaken in parallel if we wish to see a resolution to this issue.

Star TV:  Ok, the military side is, you say that this is comprehensive, but what about the discussion on the timing and the period of the ground operation.  Because the U.S. side also said ‘ok, Turkey has to pull out its military forces’ and the timing was interesting.  After the U.S. declaration Turkish soldiers went out from northern Iraq just one day later.  That was a problem for Turkish sides as you can guess.

Ambassador Satterfield:  Well, I want to make it clear, as the Turkish government and the Turkish General Staff have made it clear.  The decision to initiate this operation as well as the decision to bring the operation to a close was not the product of a U.S. decision.  These decisions were the product of Turkish decisions, and Turkish decisions only.  Now, the U.S. and Turkey share a common interest in the fight against PKK terror.  We also share a common and strong interest in preserving and advancing stability and security in Iraq.  Because that’s key to Turkish security.  And we continue to impress upon our Turkish colleagues that as they conduct the campaign against PKK terror, they need to keep in mind the impact of their actions on the situation in Iraq and on security and stability in that country. 

Star TV:  Ok, so you’re coming from Baghdad.  What about the Baghdad and northern Iraq administrations’ reaction to the Turkish operation and maybe operations which will take place in the future?

Ambassador Satterfield:  President Talabani of Iraq has recently concluded a very successful, very positive, very constructive visit here.  And certainly the Turkish government has expressed its satisfaction with the content of that visit.  We hope from that the visit can result in renewed and increased cooperation, coordination between all of us, between the government of Iraq and the Turkish government.  That’s a necessary step.  It’s also important that the Kurdish regional government take measures and continue to take measures which have already been adopted to ensure that the PKK does not have access to re-supply, that the PKK is not able to move freely within Kurdish regional government territory and that the Kurdish regional government makes it unambiguously clear that the PKK is a terrorist organization.  The PKK is an organization which has threatened, which has killed many Kurds in addition to innocent Turkish citizens. 

Star TV:  Can we understand that, after this statement, if there’ll be another cross border operation for example, the U.S. administration reaction will be the same?

Ambassador Satterfield:  You can understand that the U.S. is concerned about activities undertaken by the PKK to threaten Turkish citizens; we’re also concerned for the security and the stability of Iraq as well.  And we will continue to engage in a cooperative dialogue with the government of Turkey as well as with the Turkish General Staff alongside our dialogue with the government of Iraq and with the Kurdish regional government.  

Star TV:  So, what is your call and the U.S. administration call to Kurdish regional government, and Mr. Barzani especially?

Ambassador Satterfield:  We’ve made very clear to President Barzani as to well as other officials of the Kurdish regional government that it is in their interests and in the interest of the Kurdish region to see measures undertaken as much as possible against the PKK as a common threat to the Kurdish region, to Iraq’s own stability as well as to Turkey.  

Star TV:  In Turkey, in Ankara some people say that there’s a discussion or dispute maybe between Mr. Massoud Barzani and Nechirvan Barzani.  Do you have any idea about this couple?

Ambassador Satterfield:  I’m certainly not going to comment on that kind of speculation.  We have a strong dialogue with both President Barzani as well as with Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.

Star TV:  So you will not comment but haven’t you got any feeling about this couple’s relations?

Ambassador Satterfield:  They are not both senior officials of the Kurdish regional government and I’m really not going to speculate.

Star TV:  So how do you comment on the Mesud Barzan’s and Nechirvan Barzani’s relations with Ankara?

Ambassador Satterfield:  Certainly.  We believe that the Kurdish regional government should have a strong relationship with Turkey.  That it is in the interest of the Kurdish people as well as that region to have the utmost ties in economic, social as well as political matters with the government of Iraq and certainly security has to be included. Such ties mean a common commitment to security and stability. Security for Turkish citizens as well as stability and security for the citizens of northern Iraq.

Star TV:  What about Kirkuk?  As far as we know in this year the referendum will be after being postponed?  What can you tell us about the schedule of the referendum?

Ambassador Satterfield:  I think it’s more important to look at what is being done under the leadership of the U.N. assistance mission in Iraq and the Special Representative of the Secretary General Ambassador Staffan da Mistura, who has recently visited Ankara, has been working with the Kurdish regional government leadership as well as with the government of Iraq and other parties.  To set up a process and we believe has very successfully managed this task, a process which will lead to a mutually agreeable resolution on all of the issues including Kirkuk that fall within the scope of Article 140 or the so-called disputed internal boundaries question.  Now with respect to specific timing, what is most important here is a process.  This process should build confidence on all sides and lead ultimately to a resolution which is not unilateral, a resolution which is not confrontational and a resolution which promotes reconciliation rather than accelerates divisions.  And we have every confidence that with the support of the parties in Iraq, with our support and the support of the Turkish government, such a resolution can be found. 

Star TV:  Finally, about Barzani again.  Are you optimistic about Barzani’s attitude to cooperate with Ankara against PKK?

Ambassador Satterfield:  I believe President Barzani and the Kurdish regional government leadership collectively understand the importance of solid ties with Turkey, for the sake of the Kurdish people.  Such ties already exist on an economic and on a social level.  They need to be reflected as well in ties on security issues.  That’s in the interest of the Kurdish regional government as well as the interest of the government of Turkey, certainly the U.S. government and the government of Iraq as well.  And I’m very hopeful that progress can indeed be made in this regard.

Star TV:  Ok, Sir, thank you very much for being here and for this interview.  And have a nice trip to Istanbul.

Ambassador Satterfield:  Thank you.

Star TV:  Thank you Sir.