U.S. called on Turkey for political solution to PKK problem
The United States wants a political solution, and not a military one, for the problem posed by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) inside both Turkey and Iraq, a senior U.S. official said.
Speaking at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a think tank here, Ambassador Dell Dailey, the State Department's coordinator for counter-terrorism, was asked if the PKK problem could be resolved militarily or if a political solution should be sought. "We have not looked at a military solution as the solution to the PKK. Our preference is a political solution," Dailey said.
Asked if his remarks were for the international problem caused by the PKK's presence in northern Iraq or for a solution in Turkey, he said: "Both in Iraq and in Turkey."
This was the first time a senior U.S. official in on-the-record remarks urged Turkey to find a political solution to its PKK problem, although Dailey did not elaborate on the elements of this political solution, the Turkish Daily News reports.
Speaking at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a think tank here, Ambassador Dell Dailey, the State Department's coordinator for counter-terrorism, was asked if the PKK problem could be resolved militarily or if a political solution should be sought. "We have not looked at a military solution as the solution to the PKK. Our preference is a political solution," Dailey said.
Asked if his remarks were for the international problem caused by the PKK's presence in northern Iraq or for a solution in Turkey, he said: "Both in Iraq and in Turkey."
This was the first time a senior U.S. official in on-the-record remarks urged Turkey to find a political solution to its PKK problem, although Dailey did not elaborate on the elements of this political solution, the Turkish Daily News reports.
