Turkey vows to continue opposing the PKK

ANKARA, Turkey, July 9 (UPI) -- The fight against the Kurdistan Workers' Party will go on until the organization ceases to operate, Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said Wednesday.

"PKK terrorists that have found shelter in the north of Iraq pose a security threat to Turkey. We will take diplomatic steps so that the PKK presence in the north of Iraq ends," Gonul said.

Gonul made his statements at a military conference in Istanbul, saying Turkey would use "all diplomatic efforts" to remove the terrorist threat posed by the Kurdish separatist group, TurkishPress.com reported.

The defense minister praised allies in NATO and the European Union for supporting the Turkish fight against terrorism. He also hailed a decision by Turkish lawmakers to permit military operations across the border into Iraq.

"The decision of the Turkish parliament permitting cross-border operations against terrorists reflects the total will of the Turkish nation," Gonul also said.

His statements come a day after Chief of the Turkish General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said the PKK was involved in "extortion in several European countries, and even running guns to terrorist organizations like the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka."