Turkish interior minister leaves for Iraq

Today's Zaman

Turkish Interior Minister Beşir Atalay left for Baghdad on Sunday in order to participate in a meeting between Turkish, Iraqi and US officials.

Atalay said the meeting would discuss measures and elements of the cooperation to eradicate the presence of the terrorist organization PKK in Iraq.

"We want to see a decisive end to the PKK presence in Iraq, their camps closed down and their leaders delivered to Turkey with the active support of our Iraqi brothers and U.S. allies," Atalay told reporters before his departure.

Atalay said he would voice Turkey's commitment to proceed with the government's recent drive to expand democratic rights and freedoms.

"I hope we will return from Iraq with more concrete results and decisions," Atalay said.
Atalay said he was also scheduled to meet with Iraqi Security Minister Sherwan al-Waili in Irbil.
20.12.2009
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THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY