ANKARA - Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani said on Monday that they considered any armed act targeting Turkey a kind of betrayal against Kurdish people.
Talabani arrived in Ankara.
When asked at Ankara`s Esenboga Airport after his arrival whether he considered the PKK/KONGRA-GEL a terrorist organization, Talabani noted that they considered any armed act targeting Turkey a kind of betrayal against Kurdish people.
``This is against interests of Kurdish people, democracy and Turkey`s European Union (EU) process. We frankly and clearly condemn all acts in the region against the Turkish government,`` he said.
Upon a question about release of four former Democracy Party (DEP) deputies, Talabani said that it was a good step taken towards the future.
He noted that Leyla Zana, one of the DEP deputies, and her friends would play a significant role by making a call for peace.
Talabani told reporters that they hoped Zana and her friends would be against terrorism and all kinds of acts of violence.
He said that his visit to Ankara aimed to strengthen the understanding in relations between democratic Turkey and democratic Iraq.
Noting that the issue of federation in Iraq would be high on agenda of his meetings in Ankara, Talabani said that he did not have any concrete message.
Talabani added that they appreciated with Turkey`s friendly policies.
(UK) 21.06.2004