Th Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), one of the foreign terrorist organizations designated by the United States, has called for a cessation of violence.
Abdullah Ocalan made headlines on Thursday when he called for a cessation of violence in the group’s decades-old war against Turkish authorities.
Reports say the violence perpetrated by PKK has killed more than 40,000 people in Turkey’s southeastern region near the border with Iraq.
US hails the announcement
In a press statement in Washington DC, Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland says today’s announcement by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to halt the violence is a positive step toward ending more than three decades of tragic violence in Turkey.
She says the violence has claimed too many lives and too many futures, and must end.
The US applauds the courageous efforts of the Government of Turkey and all parties concerned to achieve a peaceful resolution that will advance democracy in Turkey and improve the lives of all of Turkey’s citizens.
“The United States will continue to support the people of Turkey in their effort to finally resolve this issue and move toward a brighter future.” – Ms. Nuland
PKK blamed for countless terrorist attacks
U.S., Turkish and European authorities blame the PKK for carrying out countless terrorist-style attacks against Turkish targets over the years.
However, Turkish military has also long waged a campaign to capture leaders both inside Turkey and in Kurdish-dominated northern Iraq.
PKK is listed as a terrorist organization internationally by a number of states and organizations, including the United States and the European Union.
The United States has expressed its strong cooperation with Turkey as they work to combat violent extremism in all its forms and safeguard the security of peace-loving people everywhere.
The PKK is a Kurdish organization that has been fighting an armed struggle against the Turkish state for an autonomous Kurdistan and greater cultural and political rights for the Kurds in Turkey. Its ideology was originally a fusion of revolutionary socialism and Kurdish nationalism.
US and Turkey Work Together To Address Global Challenges
The two countries are collaborating to address the challenges in Turkey and the things needed to bring them together to work together more effectively.
The United States stands strongly with Turkey, our NATO ally, in the fight against terrorism in all of its forms al-Qaida, the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party Front, the PKK, and many others.
US and Turkey on Syrian Crisis
Reaffirming a strong alliance with Turkey, the United States had the same goal as Turkey from the very beginning when it comes to finding solution to end the bloodshed in Syria.
Both countries have both undertaken different steps, some in concert together and some individually, in order to address the Syrian situation.
Both countries would like to save lives, not see them caught up in a continued war, Secretary Kerry said.
In that effort, both countries worked together, not just Turkey and the United States, but a whole group of countries, all of whom have been doing different things according to their laws and according to their abilities.
US and Turkey Collaborate to address the turmoil
Turkey and the United States rallied to put sanctions together, which have helped to reduce the amount of money flowing to what they called the Assad regime’s war machine.
Together, both countries worked to strengthen the Syrian opposition so they are in a position now to be able to do more.
Together, both countries helped the NATO Patriot missiles arrive, to secure Turkey’s border.
