(zaman.com) - We are losing patience warning got the attention of US, as Turkey started to get the results of its efforts in the way of cooperation from the US and Iraq in fight against the PKK.
US President George W. Bush phoned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice contacted her Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. They said what ever is necessary will be done, reports Trend.
Rice told Gul that the US is aware of the seriousness of the problem and would not let it go unattended. She said the US would definitely do whatever was needed.
Matt Bryza, US assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, held a press conference in Washington and promised concrete steps would be taken against the PKK soon.
Bush phoned Erdogan from his ranch in Texas and promised him they would work together to fight terror.
Bush also informed Erdogan that a similar message had been delivered to the Iraqi government.
A statement released following the phone conversation between the two leaders read that matter was discussed between the American and Turkish military leaders and the US, Turkey, and Iraq together would take firm steps against the PKK.
With this cooperation, Turkey has averted the risks of acting unilaterally,
which may have borne undesirable consequences in the relations with its allies.
The most important item in Rice -Guls phone conversation was the PKK issue.
Gul told Rice that Turkey wanted an immediate, visible, sensible, and concrete solution to the PKK issue. Turkey would be seriously hampered in its aid efforts to Iraq as long as the PKK existed.
The two phone conversations were welcome relief to Ankara and raised optimism that the US would take firm steps against the PKK.
As for tripartite meeting, which was attended by military, diplomatic, and intelligence officials from the US, Turkey, and Iraq, sources said, any decisions made would be as important as the meeting held.
Tripartite meetings were previously held in February 2005 and August 2005 in Ankara and Washington respectively. The results, however, did not satisfy Ankara.
The statement, concrete results are expected, is being interpreted as several PKK leaders may be arrested, and handed over to Turkey.
In 2005, Turkey delivered official documents to Iraqi and US officials about 150 PKK members. However, neither Baghdad nor Washington has taken any steps so far.