Turkey had earlier summoned the U.S. ambassador to Ankara, corrupt by a U.S. reporting condition on the deaths of 13 Turks.
The United States has tried to quell a diplomatic dispute with NATO ally Turkey, which had earlier called the U.S. ambassador over a report into the killings of 13 abducted Turks in Iraq.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had echoed the first apology made by the State Department to blame the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) for the death, saying the the first US statement “farce”.
Turkey said Sunday fighters from the banned PKK executed all 13 detainees, including Turkish military and police personnel. The PKK blamed Turkish airstrikes for the 13 deaths.
The U.S. initially said it would condemn the killings if the PKK was found to be responsible.
Ankara, already embarrassed by Washington’s involvement with Kurdish militants in nearby Syria, defied the U.S. reporting situation and called the U.S. ambassador to Ankara to respond. “In the strongest of conditions”.
Later Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu offered condolences and said Washington believed the PKK was to blame for the deaths.
“The Secretary expressed his condolences for the deaths of Turkish enemies in northern Iraq and reaffirmed our view that PKK terrorists are responsible,” State Department Ned Price said in a statement.
Erdogan had stopped at the first State Department apology to blame the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) for the deaths [Turkish Presidency via AP Photo]
Turkey this month launched armed action against PKK bases in northern Iraq that Erdogan said on Monday was partially designed to free the 13 hosts.
At least 48 members of a Kurdish armed group were also killed during the operation, according to Turkey’s defense minister.
The PKK, known as a “terrorist group” by the U.S. and other Western allies in Turkey, has been fighting an armed uprising against the Turkish state since 1984 which is believed to have left tens of thousands dead.
Ankara angered US support for YPG
Turkey has been outraged by U.S. support for Kurdish rebels in Syria known as Human Protection Units or YPGs, which Ankara has claimed is a reflection of the PKK.
Following the first U.S. statement on Sunday, Erdogan earlier Monday called for his NATO allies to choose sides.
“After this, there are two options. Either take action with Turkey without ifs or buts, without questioning, or they will be involved in all murders and bloodshed, ”he said.
“The terrorist group is on our doorstep, on our borders, killing innocents.”
Sinem Koseoglu at Al Jazeera, reporting from Istanbul, said that the reason Erdogan wants the West to choose a side is because Turkey believes the PKK is using weapons, provided by the international bonds, on the citizens of Turkey.
“Turkey has been criticizing the US for supplying arms and ammunition to the YPG, which is the same as the PKK for Turkey, because Turkey believes that the weapons that is provided by the international consortium [to the PKK] in the fight against ISIL in Syria one day will be deported to Turkey, ”Koseoglu said.
Robert Pearson, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, told Al Jazeera that it was an issue that Turkey and the U.S. could address each other to ensure their interests do not conflict.
“It simply came to our notice then. ISIS is still alive in Syria, it is still a growing force, “Pearson said.
“Unfortunately, that terrorist group, which has also carried out terrorist acts in Turkey, is still alive and still able to be funded and operated.”