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PKK issue complicates Turkey’s role in fight against IS

Turkey fears that its agreeing to be part of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State may adversely affect the Kurdish peace process.
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (L) chats with Atlantic Council Chairman Chuck Hagel during the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum in Istanbul November 17, 2011. Turkey's demand for energy will increase by 6-7 percent each year until 2023 and renewable energy projects will meet almost a quarter of total consumption by then, Erdogan said on Thursday. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY  - Tags: POLITICS ENERGY) - RTR2U4IB

On Sept. 10, US President Barack Obama will outline his administration’s plans for fighting the Islamic State (IS). His secretary of defense, Chuck Hagel, was in Ankara Sept. 9 to see what role Turkey could take in this US-led coalition of the willing against IS militants in Iraq. Although the Turkish side refrained from making any clear public commitment to this coalition, it agreed to be part of it in principle. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that Turkish officials are worried about a potential backlash that could cost the lives of 49 Turkey’s Mosul consulate hostages held by IS militants since June 11, and are also concerned about Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members acquiring more weapons.

"The weapons sent [to Iraq] should not end up in the hands of terrorist organizations. They should not end up in the hands of the PKK," Cavusoglu said Sept. 9 in an interview with the state-run Anatolia news agency.

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