Statements by U.S. Officials

General Joseph Ralston with Undersecretary Ali Tuygan

Remarks by Gen. (Ret.) Joseph Ralston

Special Envoy for Countering the PKK
Following Meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ankara, September 13, 2006

GENERAL RALSTON:  Mr. Secretary, thank you. First of all, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, and to all Turkish citizens, for the recent attacks by the PKK.  I would also like to emphasize that my government has asked me to take on this assignment to counter the PKK, and I look forward to working with my colleague, General Baser, the Turkish authorities and the Iraqi authorities to counter the PKK.  What we are looking for are effective measures and efficient measures. We need them urgently, and they need to be visible so that the Turkish public, the American public, and the Iraqi public can see that we are very serious about eliminating this threat of terrorism.  Thank you very much.

QUESTION:  Turkey expressed that we are waiting for some steps.  When will we see concrete steps?  And do you have hope to solve PKK terrorism?

GENERAL RALSTON:  The question was about concrete steps that we can take, and that certainly is the task that General Baser and I will be working on along with the US Government authorities, the Iraqi authorities and the Turkish authorities -- to come up with those effective, efficient steps that need to be taken, and that we can take, to eliminate PKK terrorism. 

QUESTION:  Turkey demands the capture and extradition of PKK leaders in northern Iraq.  Is there a role that you can play on this issue?  And have you already discussed this issue with your Turkish colleagues?

GENERAL RALSTON:  We are looking at a wide range of measures that can be taken, that are important to Turkey, that are important to United States, and are important to the Iraqi Government.  And that is our task to come with those measures that can be effective.  I don’t want to talk about the specifics at this point.  It is early in our process. But clearly, we want to look at a broad range of measures that can be taken.