October 18, 2007 - 14:40 AMT
Kurds are U.S. real allies in region
"The decision of the Turkish parliament to approve incursion into northern Iraq doesn't mean immediate action. This decision is not unexpected," Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the RA Academy of Sciences, prof. Ruben Safrastyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
"Erdogan's government is free to act and it can launch operations any moment. I do not think it will be a large-scale incursion. The U.S. has already expressed discontent about this plan and will go on pressing. We should not forget that Kurds are U.S. real allies in the region. Although, judging from Erdogan's statements, Turkey is ready to wrangle with the U.S.," he said.
October 17, despite U.S. and NATO's warnings, Turkish parliamentarians okayed the government's plans on a cross-border operation into northern Iraq for neutralization of the Kurdistan Workers' Party rebels.