BAGIS: "TERRORIST ORGANISATION PKK TARGETED IN THE LAND OPERATIONS"

Text of report in English by Turkish news agency Anatolia

Washington, DC, 29 February: Egemen Bagis, an MP from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, said [on] Thursday [29 February] whatever Al-Qaidah is for the United States, PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] is same for Turkey.

"The cross-border operation of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) into north of Iraq targets only the terrorist organization PKK," he told in a meeting organized in Washington, DC, by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, and International Republican Institute.

Bagis said Turkey wants to conclude the operation with success as soon as possible.

"Of course, we want our soldiers to return to Turkey but they have to accomplish their mission first," he also said.

It is Turkey's right to self-defence, house member

On the other hand, US Congressman Christopher Shays said the United States travels overseas when it has to counter terrorism and it is definitely Turkey's right to defend itself against the terrorist organization PKK.

Shays said, however, Turkey should be aware that it should not cause bigger problems when trying to solve terror problem.

Bagis later met Democrat Congressman Howard Berman, who is expected to become the head of the committee on foreign relations of the US House of Representatives.

Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0614 gmt 29 Feb 08