ACTION AGAINST REBEL KURDS “MATTER OF TIMING”, USA TELLS TURKEY

Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English
21 Sep 05

New York, 18 September: “Intervention against PKK [Kurdistan Workers’
Party] terrorist organization in Iraq is a matter of timing, not
principle,” US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at a meeting
with Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.

Iraq, PKK, and Cyprus were mainly discussed during Gul-Rice meeting
in New York City, Turkish diplomatic sources said.

Gul expressed Turkey’s views on Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle East,
Caucasus, Armenian-Azeri conflict, terrorism, Cyprus question,
Central Asia, Balkans and European Union (EU).

It was reported that Secretary Rice said her country shared the views
of Turkey as regards to the presence of terrorist PKK organization in
northern Iraq, and stated that US was determined to take action
against PKK which was considered as a terrorist organization.

Diplomatic sources said Rice stressed that taking action against the
PKK was not “a matter of principle but a matter of timing”.

“US is more prepared to take concrete steps against PKK,” diplomatic
sources reaffirmed.

“Improvement of bilateral relations were also reviewed at the
meeting,” the sources said, and noted that, “both parties have
assessed that they are in a comprehensive partnership.”

Sources said some critical issues like Kirkuk, PKK, and Tall Afar
were also discussed, stating that “it was observed that views on the
mentioned issues were parallel”. [Passage omitted]