ANKARA, Dec 7 (AFP) - Russia is examining Turkish demands to put a rebel Kurdish group on its terror list and expects Ankara to back efforts to curb foreign support for Chechen separatists, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said here Tuesday.
Asked whether Moscow intends to put the seperatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on its list of terrorist organizations, Ivanov, quoted by the Anatolia news agency, said: "This matter is on the agenda between the foreign ministries of Turkey and Russia. We are currently examining it."
The PKK, now also known as KONGRA-GEL, is considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union.
Ankara has long charged that PKK militants receive safe haven in Russia, while Moscow has accused Ankara of tolerating the activities of Chechen rebels on its territory, and of failing to prevent Turkish citizens from joining their ranks and pro-Chechen groups from sending them financial aid.
During a landmark visit to Turkey on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to lay to rest the tensions that often arose from the recriminations as he thanked Ankara for supporting Moscow's struggle against terrorism.
But Ivanov said Tuesday that Moscow expected further efforts from Turkey in capturing and questioning people suspected of backing Chechen separatism.
"We have the addresses of people who have been involved in terrorist activities in the Russian Federation and also information on other activities they have been involved in," he was quoted as saying after talks with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul.
Ankara supports Russia's territorial integrity, but the Chechen independence struggle enjoys widespread support in Turkey, which is home to large Muslim communities of Caucasian descent.
12/07/2004 12:33 GMT - AFP