Obama lauds Turkey's approach to Kurdish community (1st Lead)

Dec 7, 2009, 20:40 GMT

Washington - US President Barack Obama Monday praised Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's inclusive policies towards Turkey's minority Kurdish community and expressed condolences on the killing of at least five Turkish soldiers in a terrorist attack earlier in the day.

In comments after the two leaders met at the White House, Obama said he had 'complimented' Erdogan for the 'often very difficult steps' he had taken in reintegrating the Kurdish minority into the democratic and political process.

Obama was referring to the initiative by Erdogan's government to create an anti-discrimination commission and allow political campaigning in languages other than Turkish in an effort to stem the terrorism of Kurdish separatists.

The US president drew parallels to the way in which the Kurdish minority in neighbouring Iraq was feeling 'effectively represented' within the central government. That feeling helped the Iraqi Kurds to recognize that their interests and prosperity could not be advanced through 'any kind of military activity.'

The two leaders also discussed Iran's nuclear crisis, and Erdogan said Ankara stood 'ready to do whatever we can to ensure a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue in our region.'

Turkey was prepared to do whatever it could on the Middle East crisis, Erdogan said, adding that 'I do believe that, first and foremost, the United States, too, has important responsibility in trying to achieve global peace.'

On the issue of Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, Obama said Erdogan had been 'courageous' in his efforts to normalize the decades-old resentment and bitterness.

Obama said the overtures by Ankara to Turkey's estimated 12-15 million Kurdish minority reflected recognition that terrorism cannot just be dealt with militarily. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has been fighting Turkish forces since 1982, in a conflict that has cost the lives of an estimated 40,000.

Erdogan noted the need for even closer cooperation with the United States in combatting the PKK, recalling US intelligence support since 2007 in Ankara's fight against the separatist group.

'At that time, we had declared the separatist terrorist organization as the common enemy of the United States, Turkey and Iraq, because terrorism is the enemy of all mankind,' Erdogan told reporters.

'Wherever a terrorist attack takes place, our reaction is always the same, because terrorism does not have a religion - a homeland,' he said.

Erdogan and Obama also likely discussed Obama's newly unveiled strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul has said his country would not be sending any combat troops to Afghanistan, despite the US call for more NATO forces.

Turkey currently has 1,750 soldiers in Afghanistan, providing security for Kabul, but is not engaged in active combat operations.

Obama thanked Erdogan for Turkey's 'outstanding contributions to stabilizing Afghanistan.'