WASHINGTON D.C. - Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Wednesday Turkey and the United States have had a remarkable cooperation against the terrorist organization PKK in recent months.
During a session at the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. Senate, Mullen said he met Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun in Washington D.C. this week.
Mullen said Gen. James Cartwright, the vice chairman of U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and David Petraeus, the commander of multinational force in Iraq, are working together with Gen. Saygun within the framework of a mechanism created against the terrorist organization PKK.
There is a very sensitive situation and a balance, and not only the army but also high-level authorities of the two countries see that this balance should be maintained, he told.
Mullen said long-term success in preserving Iraq's and Turkey's interests depends on this balance.
The PKK is a terrorist organization, Mullen also said.
Mullen said they have made huge progress but they believe solution of this problem is not only military.
Admiral Mullen also said they hope that a long-term solution can be found to the ongoing PKK problem after the military operations.
On the other hand, Senator Mel Martinez said he was in Turkey some time ago and their cooperation against the terrorist organization PKK has a positive impact on eliminating the PKK threat against Turkey.
Martinez said he saw that PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan appreciates this cooperation and Erdogan is aware of the fact that more than military solution is necessary.