United States vows continued co-operation with Turkey against PKK

16/09/2008

ANKARA, Turkey -- Admiral Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, pledged on Monday (September 15th) that his country will continue its strategic co-operation with Turkey on a number of issues, including the fight against the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Speaking to reporters after separate talks with Turkish Chief of General Staff General Ilker Basbug and President Abdullah Gul, Mullen said it is up to the Turkish government to decide whether to continue cross-border operations against the PKK in northern Iraq.

In other news, Turkish media reported on Tuesday that PKK members kidnapped a local official of the ruling Justice and Development Party in eastern Turkey. They reportedly abducted Ali Askin at gunpoint in the province of Tunceli late Sunday. (Zaman, Milliyet, Hurriyet, Dogan news agency, CNN Turk - 16/09/08; Anadolu news agency, Hurriyet - 15/09/08)