US: PKK in Cyprus and Iraq

US reaffirms PKK headquarters in N. Iraq, presence in Greek Cyprus An annual US State Department report on global terrorism clearly registered the presence of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, saying that the PKK -- now operating as Kongra-Gel (KGK/PKK) -- “operated from headquarters in part of northern Iraq and directed forces to target mainly Turkish security forces, government offices and villagers who opposed the KGK/PKK.”

Turkish soldiers from a light artillery battalion take their positions near military helicopters on a hill in northern Iraq during a cross-border operation against the PKK in 2002. T

he 312-page “2006 Country Reports on Terrorism,” released Monday, described the PKK as the “most prominent among terrorist groups in Turkey” -- a presence in northern Iraq of which has long been a handicap in Turkey's relations with both US and neighboring Iraq as Ankara's patience ran out last month, prompting it to deliver a diplomatic note of protest to the Baghdad government concerning the issue.

The report's section titled “Chapter 2 -- Country Reports: Europe and Eurasia Overview” started with a quote from Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül delivered September 2006 in remarks at the UN General Assembly's 61st session held in New York:

“We must always keep in mind that terrorism, as an age-old method of coercion, has no deeper links to any culture or religion. Hence we should be cautious not to associate any faith with terrorism.”

"Composed primarily of Kurds with a historically separatist agenda, the KGK/PKK operated from headquarters in part of northern Iraq and directed forces to target mainly Turkish security forces, government offices, and villagers who opposed the KGK/PKK. T

he Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), a group affiliated with the KGK, assumed responsibility for attacks on resort areas in southern and western Turkey, an attack on the office of a political party, and the bombing of a minibus carrying schoolchildren.

KGK/PKK attacks against Turkey increased significantly and claimed as many as 600 lives in 2006. In October, the KGK/PKK declared a unilateral cease-fire that slowed the intensity and pace of its attacks but attacks continued in response to Turkish security forces significant counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, especially in the southeast,” the report said in the section on Turkey.

The PKK was also mentioned under the Cyprus section, referring to the EU-member Greek Cypriot government, which is not recognized by Ankara.

“The KGK/PKK maintained an active presence throughout [Greek] Cyprus and reportedly used the island as both a fundraising and transit point. Experts estimated the Kurdish community in the [Greek Cypriot] government-controlled area to number 1,500.

Among Kurdish-origin Turkish settlers in the north, the KGK/PKK reportedly enjoyed significant support. [Greek] Cyprus maintained that it was fulfilling all responsibilities with respect to the EU designation of the KGK/PKK as a terrorist organization,” the report said.

The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU.