Turkey's fight against terrorism and the future of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have reached a new level. The events of the last two weeks and the developing response suggest we are entering a new phase on this issue.

This geography can no longer sustain the modus operandi of the last couple of years. We have come to a threshold in the fight against the PKK as well as in the relations between Iraq's Kurds and Turkey. The events of the last couple of weeks clearly demonstrated that the PKK also wants a showdown and, as is commonly said in Turkish, desires "to lure Turkey into the mess in Iraq."

It is saddening to see that the statements and acts of the leadership in northern Iraq point to a significant lack of political maturity. It is very apparent that the encouragement of the US for the last four years has developed a particularly offensive Kurdish attitude. Mr. Talabani's tart statement the other day that, far from handing over any Kurdish man to Turkey, he would not even hand a Kurdish cat to Turkey, illustrated the extent to which things have come. The reaction of the Turkish public over the last week clearly suggests that our countrymen demand a swift and decisive response to such daring remarks. Furthermore, the dismal political performance of Mr. Talabani and Barzani over the last couple of weeks has effectively killed the potential for any rapprochement between Turkey and Iraq's Kurds in the foreseeable future. The two men amply demonstrated that they lack leadership qualities, are carried away by the restraint shown by Turkey and have developed a level of self-confidence which has been noted. The recent episode clarified one significant fact for Turkish public opinion: The Kurds of northern Iraq aid and abet a terrorist organization that targets Turkey. The theory that Turkey should deal with Mr. Barzani directly and that the regional administration in northern Iraq is not assisting the PKK has effectively collapsed. Turkish intelligence is in possession of evidence that clearly indicates that Mr. Barzani is dealing with the PKK, recognized as a terrorist organization by most of the civilized world. Henceforth, the idea of a "grand bargain" between the Kurds of northern Iraq and Turkey has been wasted by the irresponsible leadership of Mr. Barzani and his men.

Despite US, EU and UK recognition of the PKK as a terrorist organization, international news agencies continue to describe the PKK as "rebels," "insurgents" or "fighters." This is a regrettable fact which only adds to Turkish frustration. The selectivity of news agencies of our allies when it comes to terrorists is rather reprehensible. Also, the continuing broadcasting of the PKK's media outlet Roj TV out of Denmark, an EU member state with whom we are in negotiations as a candidate country, is inexplicable.

All in all, it has become obvious that our policy of restraint has been misread by all involved. The northern Iraqi authorities are equally responsible for the murder of our soldiers and civilians as they tolerate the presence of the PKK and are dealing with them and allow them to operate out of their territory. The Turkish government must hold Mr. Barzani and the PKK responsible for their heinous acts against Turkish security forces and civilians.

Today Mr. Talabani may offer cheeky sarcasm with his statement about not even delivering a Kurdish cat to Turkey. Soon he will realize that the Turkish clock is ticking and that his policy of utilizing the PKK for establishing a Kurdish state in this region was a serious miscalculation.