Diyar Güldoğan,Ayşe Hümeyra Atılgan
23 January 2016•Update: 25 January 2016
ANKARA
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has said there is "no difference" between Daesh, PKK and al-Nusra qualifying the three groups as "terrorist groups".
Biden's remarks came during a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul on Saturday.
"They are simply terrorist groups and here in Turkey, they threaten and do harm and are of severe consequence to the interest of the people of Turkey and we do recognize that."
Reiterating that Turkey was a "strategic partner" of the U.S., Biden said Turkey has been taking "very important" steps to improve security.
Biden said Daesh was not only a danger to Europe but more particularly to Turkey.
Davutoglu also said terrorism did not threaten only one country. Rather it threatened all neighboring countries.
"Whichever ethnicity terrorism is coming from, it is a humanitarian crime. We do not see any difference between PKK, al-Nusra, DHKP-C[far-left terrorist organization in Turkey], Daesh," said Davutoglu.
Davutoglu added both the U.S. and Turkey were sensitive to the fight against all terror organizations.
"Turkey sees three threats in Syria: One is the regime, another is Daesh, and third is the YPG," said Davutoglu, adding that the YPG (Kurdish People’s Protection Units) was part of the terrorist organization PKK.
The Kurdish Democratic Union Party, or PYD, is the Syrian affiliate of the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and the U.S.
On its front page this week, a Turkish daily reported Turkish security forces had captured a PKK drone, claiming it was a U.S.-made RQ-20. It alleged that PKK acquired the drone through the PYD, which itself received Washington military aid for its fight against Daesh.Davutoglu said that Turkey did not want to see either Daesh or PKK elements near its borders.
Davutoglu also said the PKK presence in Iraq required that Turkey bring fight to the PKK and Daesh in the region.
Biden added the PKK was as much a threat as Daesh. He said he believed that the vast majority of Kurds wanted to live in peace but that the PKK had shown no desire or inclination to do so.
Cyprus
Concerning the Cyprus issue, Biden said: "How much I appreciate your commitment to try to end years of deadlock, conflict in Cyprus."
Biden had separate meetings in Davos this past week with Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades.
Biden said both parties were heading toward a negotiation agreement and appreciated Turkey's "critical role".
The eastern Mediterranean island was divided into a Turkish Cypriot state in the north and a Greek Cypriot administration in the south after a 1974 military coup by Greece was followed by the intervention of Turkey as a guarantor power.
In 2004, a referendum proposed by then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was held but reunification was rejected by the Greek Cypriot population.
Long-stalled negotiations to find a way to settle the conflict resumed last year following Akinci's election in April. The talks restarted last May and are focused on establishing a federal model.
Biden also met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The meeting was closed to press.
