PKK TERROR MUST BE FULLY ERADICATED FROM NORTH OF IRAQ, TURKEY’S DEFENSE MINISTER

Anadolu Agency
June 1 2009
Turkey

WASHINGTON, D.C. (A.A) – 01.06.2009 – Turkish Minister of National
Defense Vecdi Gonul said Monday the U.S. support against PKK terrorism
was appreciated.

Speaking at a meeting of the American-Turkish Council (ATC) in
Washington, D.C., Gonul said that PKK terror must be fully eradicated
from the north of Iraq.

"We appreciate U.S. support against PKK terrorism. PKK terror must
be fully wiped out of northern Iraq," Gonul stressed.

We welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama’s confirmation of the
continuation of U.S. support against terrorist PKK and intelligence
sharing during his recent visit to Turkey, Gonul said.

Touching on Turkish-Armenian relations, Gonul said that efforts have
been made since the year 2007 to normalize relations between Turkey
and Armenia.

"Resolving problems between Turkey and Armenia will not only benefit
the two countries but the whole southern Caucasus," Gonul noted.

"The U.S. should speed up efforts so that problems between Azerbaijan
and Armenia get resolved soon," Gonul said.

In reference to an Armenian resolution in the U.S. Congress, Gonul
said that such initiatives could harm the normalization of relations
between Turkey and Armenia.

We expect the U.S. administration to continue to make efforts so that
the resolution in the U.S. Congress does not get accepted, Gonul said.

"We are pleased with the support U.S. President Obama has extended
to Turkey’s EU membership," Gonul also said.