ANKARA - Turkish FM Ali Babacan said Friday that the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Turkey should be considered as a start of closer cooperation between Turkey and the United States against the terrorist organization PKK.
"What we expect from all our friends and the international community is cooperation and solidarity on fight against terrorism," Babacan told a joint press conference with Rice after their meeting.
"This cooperation and solidarity may have different forms or instruments. What we need is to use these instruments in appropriate time and in a strategic approach," Babacan said.
Babacan said today's talks will resume in Washington on Monday at a meeting between Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the U.S. President George W. Bush.
"We hope that the United States, which was the target of huge terrorist actions, understands the situation that we are going through and is aware of the rage we feel. Obviously, we saw it (that they are aware) during these talks," Babacan added.
On the other hand U.S. Secretary Rice said PKK terrorism is a threat to U.S. interests as well.
Rice said the U.S. was looking at enhancing its current intelligence and information sharing with Turkey and that she had begun talking with Turkish leaders about effective measures.
"The United States is committed to redoubling its efforts, because we need a comprehensive approach to this problem," she said. "No one should doubt the commitment of the United States. We have a common enemy and we need a common approach."
She said this process should include Iraqi government too, noting that she would also discuss the matter with Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki.
"This is going to take persistence and it is going to take commitment. This is a very difficult problem. Rooting out terrorism is hard," Rice added.