Gul: "Turkey's EU bid is no hindrance to fighting the PKK"

On an official visit to Finland, President Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his Finnish counterpart Tarja Halonen. Asked by reporters afterwards about a motion extending the military's authorization to conduct cross-border operations into northern Iraq, Gul said that motion's only target is the terrorist PKK. Asked which is more important, the Kurdish issue or its European Union bid, Gul stated that the two complement each other. "Turkey's EU membership is no hindrance to fighting the PKK," he said. "On the contrary, the EU has a unified front against terrorism." Stating that Kurds are part of Turkey, but that PKK forces which try to infiltrate Turkey take haven in mountainous regions in northern Iraq not controlled by the regional administration, Gul added, "We have to distinguish between the PKK and the Kurdish people. The PKK has been recognized as a terrorist group by both NATO and the EU." Also speaking to the reporters, Halonen expressed her support for Turkey's EU membership. Praising Ankara's efforts to join the EU, Halonen added, "Reforms will pave the way for Turkey's membership." Gul also delivered a speech at the Turkish-Finnish Business Forum.