ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that there is an increasing awareness in many European countries about the PKK terrorist organization.
Babacan met Norwegian FM Jonas Gahr Store, who is currently paying a formal visit to Ankara. During the meeting, a strategy paper was signed to further improve bilateral relations. Babacan and Store held a joint news conference after the meeting.
"The EU and NATO have qualified the PKK as a terrorist organization. The PKK has claimed thousands of lives in Turkey. This outlawed organization have carried out activities in many countries in Europe under the guise of association, foundation and non-governmental organization, to spread their propaganda and provide financial resources. But, there has been an increasing awareness in many Europe about the terrorist organization," he said.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Store, on his part, said that any country should not contribute to planning or staging of acts of terrorism. He asked Babacan to send a list of foundations and associations acting in Norway on behalf of the terrorist organization, and said that they will do whatever is needed about them.
Upon a question about Iraq, Babacan told reporters, "we are eager to improve our cooperation with Iraq especially in the area of energy. We are planning to send a delegation to this country in the coming days since we aim at establishing a strategic dialogue mechanism to be presided by the prime ministers of the two countries."
Store extended Norway`s support to Turkey`s EU membership process, and said that Turkey`s EU membership aspiration emboldens its political and social reforms.
Both parties also expressed their willingness to form a Turkish-Norwegian Business Council.
(UK-ULG)