ANKARA (AA) - August 14, 2012 - Turkey's minister for EU affairs has branded terrorist organization PKK's kidnapping a Turkish parliamentarian as an act of insanity and desperation.
"PKK's latest attack shows the terrorist organization has not only kidnapped a parliamentarian, but it has also lost its mind," Turkish EU Minister & Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said Tuesday, speaking to reporters prior to his meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone in Ankara.
"PKK carries out such actions to prove its presence, however, these show how desperate and exhausted the terrorist organization is," Bagis said.
"The Turkish state will use all its means and the member of our parliament will be rejoined with his family and loved ones as soon as possible," he also noted.
Expressing his appreciation over the U.S. support for Turkey's EU bid and its fight against terrorism, Bagis said remarks by U.S. authorities after the latest kidnapping of Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Huseyin Aygun by PKK terrorists were remarkable.
Bagis also said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's statements defining PKK as not only the enemy of Turkey, but also of the United States, were very meaningful.
Ambassador Ricciardone, in his part, described Aygun's abduction as "an outrageous, unacceptable event".
"We stand in solidarity with Turkey and all the Turkish people," the ambassador said.
"We demand and expect the immediate release of this member of the parliament. Until that happens, we express our solidarity with his family, with people of Turkey, with the parliament and government and we pray for his safe and urgent release," he also said.
Touching on Turkey-EU relations as well, Ricciardone said Turkey's relationship with the European Union was extremely important for the United States at all levels.
