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FM Gul Hails Turkish-US Relations

Iran Materials 7 July 2006 17:57 (UTC +04:00)

(zaman.com) - Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul reiterated on Thursday that Turkey expects the US to do more in the fight against the PKK terror organization.

Gul, who paid a two-day visit to the United States, said that Iraq continues to be a sanctuary for PKK terrorists, reports Trend.

"We expect more from the US in our fight against the PKK. Current levels of cooperation need to be raised," Gul said in a speech at the Brooking Institute.

Turkey is not satisfied with the US efforts to crackdown on PKK terrorists hiding in the mountains of Northern Iraq, although the US has designated the PKK as a terror organization.

Turkish intelligence agency believes that nearly 2500-3000 PKK/KADEK terrorists are hiding in northern Iraq.

In his speech, Minister Gul said that the remarkable pace of reforms during the last four years has brought Turkish democracy up to European standards.

The Turkish government had adopted wide-ranging legislative and administrative reforms.

Referring to its unique position in world, Gul said that Turkey's reforms have ramifications beyond Turkey. After all, these reforms have been realized in a Muslim country, making a unique case so far. This should be understood as a gift to the world. Because, it shows that Islam is compatible with democracy and because it inspires other Muslim societies as well."

Gul also lauded the deep-rooted strategic partnership between Turkey and the US, based on trust and friendship.

Foreign Minister Gul said that the "Shared Vision and Structured Dialogue to Advance the Turkish-American Strategic Partnership," which was recently finalized, will succeed in setting a future course towards a more robust and stronger relationship.

The "Shared Vision" covers a wide spectrum of areas, ranging from promoting peace and stability in the Greater Middle East through democracy, settlement of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, combating terrorism to energy security.

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