President Bush gave Turkey's bid to join the European Union
Bush called the PKK an enemy to Turkey, Iraq and "to people who want to live in peace."
At a news conference, Gul dismissed any easing of Turkey's military strikes against the PKK. He said the Iraqi government is not able to constrain the group as it targets civilians and security forces in Turkey. Asked if he and Bush had discussed finding a political solution to the conflict with the PKK, the Turkish president said, "We did not discuss this issue in that context and neither would we discuss this issue in that context."
Speaking at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Gul rejected any suggestion that Muslim fundamentalism was on the rise in Turkey. "It is not in the mainstream in Turkey," he said. "The young people are more interested in modernity."
He said Turkey and the United States are partners in Iraq. Asked about Iran, he said Turkey seeks good relations with countries on its borders. Gul's visit to the White House is seen as a major sign of improved relations between the two NATO allies after five years of acrimony over the Iraq war and U.S. policy on Turkey's fight against Kurdish Terrorists.
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