Rice and Babacan: PKK is "Common Enemy"

In a joint press briefing, Rice and Babacan outlined their vision for collaboration on the fight against "PKK terrorism". Rice wants Iraq involved.

Gökçe Gündüç

US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice came to Ankara and met Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday (2 November). After the meeting, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Babacan and Rice held a joint press briefing.

"Common enemy"

Answering journalists' questions, Rice and Babcan called the PKK the "common enemy".

Rice expressed the USA's sensitivity towards terrism and that the country would act against the PKK. However, she emphasised that Iraq should not be destabilised any further.

Babacan noted that the USA would play a key role in solving the issue; he reiterated the phrase "We are at a point where words end" and expressed Turkey's expectation that the USA act.

Rice: Turkey and Iraq must collaborate

Rice said that in her meeting with Erdogan they had discussed how to share intelligence. She emphasised that the Iraqi government should be involved in a struggle against the PKK:

"The PKK is a threat for both Turkey and Iraq and in order to control the problem a common approach is needed. I think that Turkey will be able to work together with the Iraqi government."

"It is difficult to dig up the roots of terrorism. Iraq may become more destabilised. We are looking at how to guarantee a stable and democratic Iraq. Our efforts also benefit Turkey as a neighbouring country."

Rice opposes Armenian bill

Answering questions relating to the events of 1915 in Turkey and the Armenian bill which will soon be voted on by the House of Representatives, Rice said that she did not believe passing the bill would be helpful, and that she would do all she could to prevent it from being passed.

Babacan: Understand our anger

Babacan spoke of a Turkey suffering from "PKK terrorism". He said that thousands of people had died in PKK attacks and that different approaches had to be evaluated. He added that collaboration with Iran, which, according to Babacan, was suffering similar attacks to Turkey, was unavoidable.

"We interpret this meeting as the start of closer collaboration with the USA in the fight against terrorism. It is our desire that the USA, which has been targeted by big terrorist acts, understand our situation and our anger." (GG/AG)