News on Turkey

U.S. Condemns Bombings, Regrets Ongoing Violence in Turkey

State Department's Ereli calls on all parties to exercise restraint

Police patrol a bank attacked by firebombs during clashes in the town of Kiziltepe April 2 (©AP/WWP)

The State Department on April 3 condemned bombings by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that killed four people in Istanbul, Turkey, amid countrywide violence that has left at least 15 dead.

The weeklong civil unrest was triggered by the funerals of 14 members of the outlawed PKK who were killed by Turkish security forces, the Reuters news agency reported April 3. Turkey, the United States and the European Union consider the PKK to be a terrorist organization, but many Kurds in Turkey are sympathetic to the group.

“The United States calls on all parties to exercise restraint,” State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said in the April 3 statement. “We reiterate our strong condemnation of all terrorist groups, including the PKK.”

Following is the text of Ereli’s statement:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 3, 2006

STATEMENT BY ADAM ERELI, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

Bombings in Turkey

The United States condemns the bombings by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that killed four people in Istanbul over the weekend.  The United States also regrets the loss of life as a result of violent protests by PKK sympathizers in southeast Turkey and in Istanbul.

Turkey is a valued ally and close friend of the United States, and we stand together in our quest for regional stability and democratic reform. The United States calls on all parties to exercise restraint. We reiterate our strong condemnation of all terrorist groups, including the PKK.  It is important to condemn this violence and stand against terrorists and their supporters.