Turkey has undergone a series of terrorist attacks once more. Terrorists have carried out several attacks in succession aimed against Turkish soldiers. It is possible that the surge in activity of PKK units (Kurdistan Workers' Party), is far from accidental. It is significant that the Turkish military were attacked at a time of general regional crisis and deterioration of relations between Turkey and Israel.
In recent months, Ankara has undertaken a whole number of peacemaking initiatives, which made it possible to form a new angle on Turkey's potential as a regional leader. Conclusion of an agreement between Iran, Brazil and Turkey concerning the exchange of uranium has brought in a new understanding of the situation around settling the problem of the Tehran's nuclear program. Insistent appeals and the persistent actions of the Turks, aimed at calling off the Israeli blockade from the Palestinian Gaza Strip, have borne fruit.
Israel has announced the revocation of the prohibition on imports of all goods into the Gaza Strip, except for arms and military materials, but has kept all the existing "security procedures" in place, including the full naval blockade.
The Israeli media interpret revision of the sanctions regime as being the result of international pressure, following the interception of the "Fleet of Freedom".
Turkey has been traditionally attacked in the south-eastern provinces bordering Iraq. On June 19th, serious clashes between units of Turkish Armed Forces and PKK troops took place there. 11 Turkish soldiers and 12 PKK guerrillas were killed in the clashes. The PKK press service
stated these actions of the Kurds were a response to the murders of at least 120 militants last week in northern Iraq, where PKK bases are situated, during air raids by the Turkish Air Force.
The Turkish government intends to suppress provocations and tensions on Turkish territory resolutely. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised that the country's armed forces will put an end to raids of the Kurdish separatists and annihilate PKK units fighting in the
south-eastern regions of the country.
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A meeting will be held in Ankara concerning security, chaired by Turkish President Abdullah Gul. The meeting will be attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Army General Ilker Bashbug, and some ministers.
In addition, it became known that President Gul has summoned the leaders of the three political parties represented in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to his residence, in order to discuss the aggravation of terrorism in the country. Meetings between the President and the heads of the opposition parties will take place after the summit on security.
It has not been ruled out that the PKK has synchronized its actions in accordance with the international situation and decided to strike a blow precisely now, at a time when Turkey is successfully strengthening its position on the international scene. It is obvious that the attention of the Turkish leadership has been deliberately distracted towards internal security problems, thus showing the country's vulnerability. Ankara’s response will be tough, as usual.
Large-scale operations aimed at capturing terrorists will be conducted in the south-east. Military units may be sent to northern Iraq to annihilate militant bases. Turkish troops conduct these "sanitary cleansings" regularly, making it possible to stabilize the situation for a year or two.
