Ankara disappointed at PKK publication in Greek museum

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Karayılan. AFP Photo

Turkey has voiced its disappointment after a publication from senior Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) figure Murat Karayılan was promoted in Athens on Nov. 28 and displayed at the Greek Defense Ministry’s War Museum.

In a statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Nov. 30, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu personally conveyed his unease over the incident during a telephone conversation with his Greek counterpart, Dimitris Avramopoulos, on Nov. 29.

The incident “has formed an extremely unfortunate development in regards to cooperation in the field of fighting terrorism,” the ministry said.

“This incident is also worrying as it showed that some circles who are annoyed with the improvement of the Turkish-Greek friendship are still active,” it said, warning that giving the outlawed PKK opportunities to promote “terrorism propaganda” was not in line with international agreements, as the PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by both the European Union and NATO.

During the telephone conversation with Davutoğlu, Avramopoulos denied press reports suggesting that the Greek government tolerated the incident and said action would be taken concerning officials responsible in the Greek Defense Ministry War Museum.

“Our will to further our cooperation with Greece, which has improved in many fields in recent periods, is continuing,” the ministry said, stressing the importance it attached to friendship with Greece as a neighbor and an ally.

“It is believed that relations between our countries can been carried to a much further point if this goodwill continues to be mutually displayed,” it said.

Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry condemns museum’s PKK book promotion

The Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry released a statement Nov. 29 condemning the presentation of a book written by Murat Karayılan, a leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), at the venue hosting the Defense Ministry's War Museum.
 
“Greece condemns all forms of terrorism unequivocally. This is also the position of the European Union as a whole, as a matter of principle and as concerns the PKK organization,” the statement said.
 
The statement went on to claim the book had been included in the event “without the knowledge of the authorities responsible.”
 
“The Ministry of Defense held an inquiry on the matter and those responsible were held accountable,” the statement said.
 
An advertisement promo of the book entitled, “The Anatomy of a War,” was placed in the War Museum of the Greek Ministry of Defense following its release in Greek.