Cross-border operations to be extended

ANKARA

A government motion for a one-year extension of the Turkish military’s authorization to stage cross-border operations has been submitted to Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç announced late on Monday.

Parliament will debate the extension of the Turkish military’s mandate for cross-border operations after the start of the new legislative year on Oct. 1, Arınç told reporters at a press conference following a Cabinet meeting. The current mandate expires on Oct. 17.

Northern Iraq

Parliament first authorized the cross-border military operations in 2007 to deal with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) outposts in northern Iraq, where the group has its main bases. The mandate has been extended each year since.

The latest motion, like previous ones, would authorize the government to determine the scale, scope and timing of military action in northern Iraq.

Upon reporters’ questions, Arınç also mentioned the talks between the government and the PKK, which have been on the national news agenda recently.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy chair Haluk Koç last week revealed a document that he claimed was an agreement hammered out by the government and the PKK during talks between the two parties in Oslo, Norway between 2009 and 2011.