Northern Iraq: Withdrawal of Turkish Forces

HL Deb 07 February 2001 vol 621 cc113-4WA

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they and their allies are taking to secure the withdrawal of Turkish armed forces from the Kandil mountains and the countries of Ranya and the Hadji-Omran in northern Iraq, near the frontier of Iran. [HL477]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

We have closely monitored the recent incursions into northern Iraq which began in December, and we will continue to do so. We are in contact with the Turkish authorities and the US as co-sponsors of the Kurdistan Democratic Party/Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (KDP/PUK) reconciliation process, to achieve peace and stability in northern Iraq for all those who live there.

However, we have not taken any specific steps to secure the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the area in question, and we are not aware of any action by other governments to do so.