US official Gordon: PKK a challange not only for Turkey but also for US

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon has said that dealing with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is a challenge not just for Turkey but for the US as well. "We see it as a terrorist organization that should be combated. And we work very closely with Turkey in supporting [Turkey] against the threat from the PKK," added Gordon, who spoke to reporters in New York on Thursday. The United States strongly stands with Turkey in its views on the PKK, he noted. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and the US, has been waging a bloody campaign in Turkey's Southeast since 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed to date in the decades-long conflict. Gordon also commented on his recent meeting with the Greek Cypriot administration's foreign minister. The US official said during the talks he expressed his disappointment that the talks hadn't made more progress so far. “There was, you know, over the past couple of years a certain amount of hope, especially when we began a process of direct talks between Turkish Cypriot leaders and Greek Cypriot leaders that we could get this done. I underscored again the US willingness to help, in any way we can, get that process going. I hope it doesn't have to wait until the elections in Cyprus. But if it does, at that point we stand ready again to promote the settlement that would just so clearly be in the interest of both sides. And I don't need to tell you how much it would really be win-win," he said.