US' Ricciardone: "In the face of violent terrorism, Turkey must a strong response"

The Turkish army needs to deal with militants who are not willing to participate in a political process to solve the Kurdish issue, US Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone said yesterday. "If people who are blowing up your soldiers and your citizens don't wish to participate in the political process, [then] your state security forces need to be strong and deal with those terrorists,", the told reporters during a press conference about the training of Afghan police in Turkey. The US is "standing with you," the ambassador added.