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Transcript/ScriptTURKEY KURDS IRAN
HEADLINE: Turkey Closes in on Kurdish Militants, Threatening Regional Shake Up
TEASER: Analysts say Iran could merge a winner as Turkish military close in on Kurdish militant bases in Iraq.
PUBLISHED AT: 5/23/2022 at 5:54 pm
BYLINE: Dorian Jones
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Istanbul
VIDEOGRAPHER: Berke Bas, DO NOT USE NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS, AGENCIES, COURTESY
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, Reuters, AFP, Turkish Armed Forces.
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:31
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: Restrictions on Iranian images, NO ACCESS ISRAEL MEDIA/PERSIAN LANGUAGE TV STATIONS OUTSIDE IRAN/STRICTLY NO ACCESS BBC PERSIAN/VOA PERSIAN/MANOTO-1 TV/IRAN INTERNATIONALNO ACCESS ISRAEL MEDIA/PERSIAN LANGUAGE TV STATIONS OUTSIDE IRAN/STRICTLY NO ACCESS BBC PERSIAN/VOA PERSIAN))
((INTRO))
[[Turkey is vowing to crush the presence of the Kurdish militant group PKK in Iraq. The PKK has used neighboring Iraq as the main base in its war for greater minority rights in Turkey. But as the Turkish military closes in on the PKK, analysts warn that the Kurdish group could turn to Iran, with implications across the region, including US forces in Syria. Dorian Jones reports for VOA from Istanbul.]]
((VIDEO SHOT: SOLDIERS HELICOPTERS JET, DRONES))
((Mandatory Courtesy: Turkish Armed Forces))
((VIDEO SHOT: IRAQI MOUNTAINS PKK REUTERS))
((NARRATOR))
Turkish forces, backed by jets and drones, are driving the PKK Kurdish militant group from its bases across Iraqi Kurdistan. For decades, the mountainous region has provided the PKK a sanctuary to launch attacks in its battle for greater minority rights across the border in Turkey.
((VIDEO SHOT:ERDOGAN -AFP
KURDISH MILITA VOA ORIGINAL
DRONE ATTACK))
((Mandatory Courtesy: Turkish Armed Forces))
((NARRATOR))
With President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claiming to have the support of local Iraqi Kurdish forces, the PKK’s once deemed impregnable headquarters in the Qandil mountains is now the target Turkish forces.
[[RADIO VERSION: Aydin Selcen, is the former head of Turkey’s consulate in Iraqi Kurdistan.]]
((Aydin Selcen, Former Turkish Diplomat – MALE IN ENGLISH – VOA))
“Because the politicians, they have to speak with symbols, they have to say something. When you say Qandil is our ultimate target or aim whatever. It means that the ultimate step is to stop the PKK from existing altogether.”
((VIDEO SHOT: QANDIL MOUNTAINS-Reuters
IRANIAN KURIDSH FIGHTERS-YouTube CC))
((NARRATOR))
The PKK bases are in the Qandil mountains bordering Iran, a rival of Turkey. As the Turkish military steps up its offensive, some analysts suggest the PKK could turn to Iran for support. Despite having its own restive Kurdish minority, Tehran has in the past found common ground with the PKK, whose influence extends to Iraqi and Syrian Kurds.
[[RADIO VERSION: Huseyin Bagci is president of the Foreign Policy Institute, a research organization in Ankara.]]
((Huseyin Bagci, Foreign Policy Institute (MALE IN ENGLISH))
((Mandatory cg: zoom))
“Iran supported PKK in the ’80s and ’90s very strongly. And now when Russians are out of the scene, not so strong, and probably Iran will take their place and the PKK and PYD of course they will try to use PKK as a leverage in their relations with Turkey.”
((VIDEO SHOT: PMU MILITIA-AFP))
((NARRATOR))
Observers point out Iranian backed Iraqi militias like the PMU already have contacts with groups linked to the PKK.
[[RADIO VERSION: Turkish diplomat Aydin Selcen: ]]
((Aydin Selcen, Turkish Diplomat – MALE IN ENGLISH – VOA))
“Right inside the Iraqi border in Sengal Sinjar area, the PMU and this YBS, the PKK affiliate in the area, they have friendly relations, or they depend on each other, perhaps. So, in order to survive, all these local actors will need bigger actors than themselves like Turkey, Iran or global powers like the Americans, the United States.”
((VIDEO SHOT; SYRIAN KURDS US FORCES -AFP))
((NARRATOR))
In Syria, Kurdish forces linked to the PKK cooperate with American forces in the war against the Islamic State group. For Tehran, which backs the Damascus regime, deepening cooperation with the PKK offers the opportunity to undermine the American presence in Syria.
But any Iranian cooperation with the PKK will involve a careful balancing act.
[[RADIO VERSION: Zaur Gasimov is a senior research fellow in the history department at the University of Bonn.]]
((Zaur Gasimov, University of Bonn - MALE IN ENGLISH))
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
“I can imagine that the ties between PKK and Tehran would be staid, and maintained, and maybe boosted, but I can’t imagine that Tehran would overplay, become a promoter of the PKK or supporter in the region, jeopardizing its relations with Ankara.”
((VIDEO SHOT: IRANIAN PRESIDENT, ERDOGAN, TEHRAN, AFP
TURKISH ARMY))
((Mandatory Courtesy: Turkish Armed Forces of Ukraine))
((NARRATOR))
Relations between Turkey and Iran are often characterized as a combination of competition and cooperation, with Iran’s battered economy relying heavily on Turkish
trade - a point Erdogan is likely to stress in his expected visit to Tehran in the coming weeks.
((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Istanbul
Embargo DateMay 23, 2022 18:09 EDT
Byline((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
