Turkey, The PKK and Northern Iraq

Thursday, March 29, 2007

9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Location:

The Jamestown Foundation

7th Floor Board Room

1111 16th St. NW

Washington, DC 20036

Presenters:

General Joseph Ralston (ret.)

U.S. Special Envoy for Countering the PKK, The Cohen Group and the Former Supreme Allied Commander for Europe (SACEUR)

James Brandon

Jamestown Analyst & Editor, al-Jazeera

The situation on the border between Turkey and northern Iraq has grown increasingly tense in recent months as the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has intensified its guerrilla campaign against Turkey from bases in northern Iraq. With tension deepening, Turkey has mobilized its forces along the border with northern Iraq and has issued repeated warnings that the activities of the PKK and its support network in northern Iraq should come to an end. Meanwhile, the PKK and its offshoot the PJAK have expanded their operations inside Iran, creating a new frontline for Kurdish separatists that is threatening to further destabilize the region.

Efforts by the United States to deter the activities of the PKK have deepened with the appointment of General Joseph Ralston (ret) as the U.S. Special Envoy for Countering the PKK. The Jamestown Foundation is pleased to announce that General Ralston, who recently joined The Jamestown Foundation’s Advisory Council, will be speaking on U.S. and Turkish efforts to counter the PKK and will share his insights on the situation in northern Iraq and the recent upsurge in PKK activity against Turkey. Joining the discussion will be Jamestown Analyst James Brandon, who has traveled extensively throughout the region and has written about the activities of the PKK and its offshoot PJAK in two of our publications – Terrorism Monitor and Terrorism Focus. As space is limited, reservations are required. Please e-mail your name and affiliation to: rsvp-mar29@jamestown.org.

Directions:

The Jamestown Foundation

1111 16th St. NW

7th Floor Conference Room

Washington, DC 20036