USA: "PKK-KADEK TERRORISM HAS COME TO AN END!.."

Along with the ongoing debates on the reconstruction of Iraq in the post war era, the US Government, within the framework of the decision "to disarm Iraq and to rid the region of terrorist organizations", is in preparation to annihilate PKK-KADEK, which has been striving to recover in Northern Iraq.

The US Department of State, in its "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report that was announced on April 30, 2003, indicated that the PKK, which was included in the list of terrorist organizations by the US and the EU, changed its name into KADEK in April 2002; that KADEK, an extension of the PKK that keeps on perpetrating acts of violence, was also included in the USA's list of terrorist organizations; that KADEK currently has 4-5 thousand armed members in the camps in Northern Iraq, although it had announced that it would "give up its weapons"; and that the terrorist organization is the most dangerous group for Europe, USA, Turkey and the countries of the Middle East.

Washington, following the announcement of "The Patterns of Global Terrorism" report, gave messages from two important channels to Ankara this week that "the terrorist PKK-KADEK organization will be neutralized".

Richard Myers, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a telephone conversation with General Hilmi Ozkok, Chief of Turkish General Staff, said: "You were concerned about Mosul and Kirkuk. We are ousting the armed Kurds from the region and confiscating their weapons on their way back. We will also disarm the PKK (KADEK) and neutralize it. We are preparing plans to do so," reiterating the determination of the US to disarm Iraq and rid the region of terrorist organizations.

"The US will take any measure to eliminate the PKK-KADEK presence in Northern Iraq. The objective of the US and the Iraqis is to cut all connections of Iraq with terrorism and to rid the region of terrorists," said U.S. Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman, in an interview broadcast on CNN Turk TV on May 7, 2003, emphasizing the USA's determination to maintain its cooperation with Turkey to struggle against terrorism.

"The PKK changed its name into KADEK. It was found out, by closely observing KADEK's activities, that the organization is the extension of the PKK and bears the same conditions. The leaders and high-level cadres of the PKK and KADEK are the same. KADEK, just like the PKK, maintains its acts of terror. KADEK was included, along with the PKK, in the USA's list of terrorist organizations. Necessary sanctions have been initiated so as to freeze the assets and to suspend the transactions of KADEK, which was banned in the USA," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, in a press conference last month, emphasizing importance attached by the US Government to the relations with Turkey and its will to work with Turkey maintain stability in Iraq and reconstruct the country.

Meanwhile, the appointment of Paul Bremer, former director of the Department of Counter-terrorism, as the head of Iraq's transitional government, is an important development indicating the US Government's resolution to eliminate the terrorist organization that has been active in Northern Iraq.

"Holland has been talking about the struggle against international terrorism, but opening its doors for terrorist organizations like the PKK-KADEK. The terrorist PKK-KADEK has killed innocent people for its political objectives. Regarding these murders as ones committed for free Kurdistan does not change the fact that these innocent people have been the victims of terror. Holland has been the weakest ring in the European Union's struggle against terrorism," said American counter-terrorism expert Paul Bremer, in a press conference held in Hague last year, asking Holland to ban the terrorist PKK-KADEK.

International community is supporting the US initiatives to neutralize PKK-KADEK within the concept of struggle against terrorism, while appealing the leaders of the EU member countries not to provide safe havens for terrorists in Europe, under whatever title, and to include KADEK in the list of terrorist organizations.