WASHINGTON, Jan 8: US President George Bush on Tuesday said the United States would continue to help Turkey fight their “common enemy,” Kurdish rebels, but the White House also urged Ankara to find a political solution to the problem.
During a White House visit by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Bush praised Turkey as a model for democracy in the Muslim world and pledged US support in its fight to contain the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.
“A common enemy is the PKK. It’s an enemy to Turkey, it’s an enemy to Iraq and it’s an enemy to people who want to live in peace. The United States, along with Turkey, are confronting these folks and we will continue to confront them,” Bush said.Added Gul: “We are working against our common enemy, the PKK. And we have once again underlined the importance of our cooperation in fighting against the PKK.”
White House officials said Turkey has shown restraint in its military response to attacks by the PKK and called on Ankara to seek open dialogue with Iraq to resolve problems along the two countries’ border.
Turkey, which has been waging an aerial bombing campaign against PKK positions in northern Iraq, blames the rebels for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people since 1984 when the PKK took up arms to fight for an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey.
ADMISSION TO EU: Bush also called for the Nato ally’s admission to the European Union as a step that would aid peace.
“I strongly believe that Europe will benefit when Turkey is a member of the European Union,” Bush said at a meeting intended to demonstrate improved US-Turkish relations after years of tensions over Iraq and other issues.
“I view Turkey as a bridge between Europe and the Islamic world, a constructive bridge. And so I believe it’s in the interests of peace that Turkey be admitted into the EU,” Bush added.
The United States and European Union, like Turkey, classify the PKK as a terrorist organisation.
Tuesday’s meeting marked Gul’s first visit to Washington as president. He and Bush were scheduled to have lunch afterward.
Before the meeting, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Bush would encourage Gul to work with Iraqi government leaders on a long-term political solution.—Reuters
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