Ankara had invited the French ambassador to Turkey to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has called on Ankara to distinguish between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the European Union, and the Kurdish community, the ministry said.
Colonna had a telephone conversation with her Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu yesterday, Thursday, a week after the murder in Paris of three Kurds, attributed to a 60-year-old man who declared himself a racist.
Ankara had invited the French ambassador to Turkey to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the statement by Kent d’Orsay, Colonna “reminded that the PKK, which is included in the European list of terrorist organizations, must be distinguished from other non-violent Kurdish movements”, also underlining “France’s commitment to the freedom of the press and freedom of expression”.
The minister also “underlined the heinous nature” of this attack, which took place on December 23.
She assured her counterpart “that additional measures were taken to ensure the safety of the areas where the Kurdish community gathers” and that “the protection of Turkish diplomatic areas throughout the national territory was strengthened”.
No details were announced about these measures, which were previously announced by the Minister of the Interior, Géral Darmanen.
During the bilateral conversation, Cavusoglu denounced “black propaganda” carried out by circles linked to the PKK and other Turkish Kurdish organizations, the Foreign Ministry in Ankara said.
Cavusoglu also protested against “the appearance of French politicians in front of photographs of terrorists and rags of the terrorist organization” (s.s.: of the PKK) considering that “these propaganda activities should not be allowed”.
Agence France-Presse points out that bilateral relations between Paris and Ankara are strained on many issues, mainly regarding Turkey’s role within NATO, Syria, the eastern Mediterranean and immigration.
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