ANKARA - U.S. President George Bush assured Turkey that the United States would cooperate with Turkey in its fight against the terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL, sources said on Sunday.
Sources noted that Turkey expressed its views and expectations about elimination of the terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL from the north of Iraq during Bush's meetings in Ankara and asked the United States to keep its promises and take concrete steps to eliminate the terrorist organization from the region.
The same sources quoted Bush as saying that his country was aware of Turkey's sensitivities about elimination of the terrorist organization from the north of Iraq, and said that Bush pledged to take concrete steps.
Bush stated that his country would cooperate with Turkey, and said that he knew that whatever Al-Qaida meant for the United States, PKK meant exactly the same for Turkey.
U.S. President Bush pointed out that the coalition powers would transfer sovereignty to Iraqi people on June 30, adding that the new Iraqi administration would have responsibilities in countering the terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL.
After meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Bush proceeded to Istanbul, where he will attend NATO Heads of State and Government Summit between June 28 and 29.
(BRC) 27.06.2004