P.K.K. Terror Must Be Fully Eradicated From North Of Iraq, Turkey's Defense Minister

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Turkish Minister of National Defense Vecdi Gonul said Monday the U.S. support against PKK terrorism was appreciated.

Speaking at a meeting of the American-Turkish Council (ATC) in Washington, D.C., Gonul said that PKK terror must be fully eradicated from the north of Iraq.

"We appreciate U.S. support against PKK terrorism. PKK terror must be fully wiped out of northern Iraq," Gonul stressed.

We welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama's confirmation of the continuation of U.S. support against terrorist PKK and intelligence sharing during his recent visit to Turkey, Gonul said.

Touching on Turkish-Armenian relations, Gonul said that efforts have been made since the year 2007 to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia.

"Resolving problems between Turkey and Armenia will not only benefit the two countries but the whole southern Caucasus," Gonul noted.

"The U.S. should speed up efforts so that problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia get resolved soon," Gonul said.

In reference to an Armenian resolution in the U.S. Congress, Gonul said that such initiatives could harm the normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia.

We expect the U.S. administration to continue to make efforts so that the resolution in the U.S. Congress does not get accepted, Gonul said.

"We are pleased with the support U.S. President Obama has extended to Turkey's EU membership," Gonul also said.