WASHINGTON/NEW YORK
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon has said that PKK was a challenge not just to Turkey but to U.S. too.
"We see it as a terrorist organization that should be combated. And we work very closely with Turkey in supporting it against the threat from the PKK," added Gordon who spoke to reporters in New York on Thursday.
The United States strongly stands with Turkey on the question of the PKK, he noted.
Regarding Iran issue, Gordon said, "where Iran is concerned, obviously Turkey has a great stake, given its geography. I would just say that our focus has been pretty clear. I've described the two tracks of our diplomacy. We've said that the P-5 plus one is the right framework for those nuclear talks with Iran. We think it's important that Iran hears a united international voice, and the P-5 plus one, on behalf of the Security Council, is the right voice for Iran to be hearing."
Commenting on his meeting with Greek Cypriot administration's foreign minister, Gordon said, "I expressed my 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 U.S. 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 added.
Upon a question, Gordon said that they also talked about the dispute over energy between Turkish and Greek Cypriot parties, adding that this issue was also in the category of win- win.
Gordon noted that the United States had been clear that it supported Greek Cyprus' right to an exclusive economic zone, and recalled that an American company was working with Greek Cypriots to develop energy resources off the island.
Gordon said, "we are equally clear that those resources should benefit both communities, and the best way to do that is in the context of a comprehensive settlement. Were that to occur, both sides would benefit. Special U.N. Envoy Alexander Downer calls this a potential dowry for the island, and that's a nice way to think about it. It's a pool of potential resources that could facilitate a settlement and make it easier."
"And if you really want a positive vision for the future, you can picture these resources being developed and even exported through a pipeline to Turkey, and then Turkey would benefit as well. So that's the vision we have for the island: a comprehensive settlement from which everybody would benefit," he added.
