GENERAL JOSEPH RALSTON (USAF, RET.) HOLDS A NEWS BRIEFING AT THE FOREIGN PRESS CENTER.

Original Source: Political Transcript Wire

GENERAL RALSTON HOLDS A NEWS BRIEFING AT THE FOREIGN PRESS CENTER, AS RELEASED BY THE FOREIGN PRESS CENTER

SEPTEMBER 27, 2006

SPEAKER: GENERAL JOSEPH W. RALSTON (USAF, RETIRED), U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR COUNTERING THE PKK

[*] MODERATOR: Good morning and welcome to the Foreign Press Center for today's briefing by retired General Ralston, the U.S. Special Envoy for countering the PKK. He'll be speaking about his recent trip to the region, to Iraq and to Turkey to discuss with Iraq and Turkey our common goal of ending the PKK terrorism. General Ralston will open with a brief statement and then be happy to take your questions for about a half an hour. Thank you very much.

RALSTON: Well, good morning. First of all, let me say that it was earlier this month when I was appointed as the Special Envoy for Countering the PKK. And I'm sure you will understand the significance of this. I was somewhat disturbed to see that I was called in much of the Turkish press a coordinator of the PKK. I never have used the word "coordinator." It has always been Special Envoy for Countering the PKK. And the significance of that point is it is not -- first of all, I will not meet with the PKK. We do not meet with terrorist groups. The PKK is declared a terrorist group, not only by Turkey and the United States and the United Kingdom, but the entire European Union. And so I want to allay any fears that anyone may have that somehow within my mandate, I am to coordinate or meet with or have discussions with the PKK. That is the furthest thing that could be from the truth.

Secondly, let me apologize that I am -- I kept you waiting this morning. I have been on the phone with my Turkish counterpart, General Baser. We had a secure phone call this morning to talk about the issues and what -- that we are doing and the way ahead. I did have in my judgment a very useful trip, not only to Turkey where I met with all of the appropriate Turkish officials from the Prime Minister to General Buyukanit, who is a good friend back in the days when I was Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he was Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff. So we had worked very well together at that point. Certainly the appointment of General Edip Baser as the -- as my counterpart in Turkey, was to me wonderful news because of the relationship that I have had with him over the years as we worked together on many, many tough problems. So that, I think, is good news.

And I also met not only with the Prime Minister and the chief of the Turkish General Staff, but with the Interior Minister of the Turkish National Police, the intelligence organizations, as well as the U.S. country team in Ankara. From there I went to Iraq and again had meetings with -- in Baghdad with the Vice President, with the Prime Minister, with the Minister of Defense, with General Casey who is heading all of our forces there and then later on with President Talabani. He was in the United States at the time I was in Iraq and I met with him in New York as part of his visit to the United Nations. I also went to northern Iraq and had a meeting with President Barzani in the north and I think it's important that you understand that what my purpose and intent is to try to get the Government of Iraq, the Government of Turkey and the Government of the United States of America all working together in a fashion that we can all be effective in countering the PKK.

…