US putting bounties on PKK positive, belated step: Akar

SUAKIN ISLAND

A U.S. decision to put multi-million dollar bounties on the heads of three PKK leaders was a "positive but belated" step, Turkish national defense minister said on Nov. 7.

"I would like to underline that this decision and step of the U.S., of our American friends and our allies, was a positive, but belated one," Hulusi Akar told the state-run Anadolu Agency during his visit Sudan's Suakin Island on the west coast of the Red Sea.

The U.S. said on Nov. 6 that it is offering up to $5 million for information leading to the identification or location of Murat Karayılan, Cemil Bayik or Duran Kalkan.

The announcement followed U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer’s official visit to the capital, Ankara.

The PKK is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU. 

Akar said Turkey expects the U.S. to take the same stance against the YPG, which Ankara considers as the Syrian branch of the illegal PKK.

"Because the YPG is a terrorist organization that has no difference from the PKK," he added.

The minister also said Turkey expects from the U.S. not to send weapons and ammunition to the YPG.