WASHINGTON D.C. (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday, and explained Turkey's expectations about Cyprus and the terrorist organization of PKK.
Holding a news conference following the meeting, Gul said, ''U.S. Secretary of State Rice told us that the United States would continue extending support to efforts to provide a lasting peace in Cyprus under the leadership of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. She also pledged to take more steps to this end.''
''Meanwhile, we expressed our pleasure with the recent visit of U.S. congressmen to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Turkish Cypriots who supported UN Secretary General Annan's plan in last year's referendum, were punished while Greek Cypriots who rejected the plan, were awarded with EU membership. It is unfair,'' Gul stressed.
PKK AND IRAQ
Noting that acts of terrorism had increased in Turkey recently, Gul said, ''we told Rice that an increasing number of terrorists infiltrated Turkey from Iraq, and anti-personnel land-mines planted by the terrorist organization of PKK killed many Turkish soldiers. We stressed that those events could not be ignored, and that the United States should display a more resolute attitude against the terrorist organization.''
Gul highlighted importance of security meetings among Iraqi, American and Turkish officials.
''Rice assured us that the United States will not allow any acts of terrorism from Iraqi territories against Turkey,'' he emphasized.
Gul underlined importance of protection of Iraq's territorial integrity.
''We also discussed recent developments in Syria. We do not have any sympathy for such regimes. However, there have been neighboring relations between Turkey and Syria,'' Gul added.
2005-06-08