Condemns the continued campaign of terrorism by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Reaffirms that the PKK is a common enemy of the United States and Turkey and all responsible governments in the world.
Urges the PKK to renounce violence and pursue peaceful dialogue with Turkey.
Commends Turkey's steps to address the sources of grievance that have been exploited by the PKK.
Encourages the United States to make available diplomatic, military, and intelligence support to Turkey so that it can eliminate irreconcilable PKK elements.
Applauds the deepening economic and political ties between Turkey and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq.
Urges increased intelligence and counterterrorism cooperation among the governments of the United States, Turkey, Germany, and other countries in Europe to eliminate European-based PKK networks.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 486 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 486
Condemning the PKK and expressing solidarity with Turkey.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 7, 2012
Mr. Lieberman (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Rubio)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Condemning the PKK and expressing solidarity with Turkey.
Whereas, since 1984, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), also known as the
Kongra-Gel, has waged a campaign of violence and terrorism against the
people and Government of Turkey;
Whereas it is estimated that at least 30,000 people have been killed in PKK-
associated violence since 1984;
Whereas the United States Government designated the PKK as a Foreign Terrorist
Organization in 1997, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in
2001, and a Significant Foreign Narcotics Trafficker in 2008;
Whereas, in 2010 and 2011, the Department of the Treasury designated the top
leaders of the PKK/Kongra-Gel as Significant Foreign Narcotics
Traffickers, including the head of the PKK/Kongra-Gel Murat Karayilan
and senior leaders Ali Riza Altun and Zubayir Aydar;
Whereas, in 2004, the Council of the European Union added the PKK to its list of
terrorist organizations;
Whereas President George W. Bush in October 2007 characterized the PKK as a
``common enemy'' of the United States and Turkey, saying of the PKK,
``It's an enemy to Turkey, it's an enemy to Iraq, it's an enemy to
people who want to live in peace.'';
Whereas President Barack Obama in April 2009 stated that, ``Iraq, Turkey, and
the United States face a common threat from terrorism. . . . And that
includes the PKK'';
Whereas the Government of Turkey, under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has
begun to take historic steps to resolve sources of grievance among Kurds
in Turkey that are exploited by the PKK;
Whereas the PKK has a safe haven in the Qandil Mountains of northern Iraq where
many PKK fighters are currently based;
Whereas the Government of Turkey has been developing and deepening diplomatic,
economic, and strategic ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government in
northern Iraq;
Whereas Prime Minister Erdogan on April 20, 2012, stated, ``The stance of the
Turkish state is clear: once [the PKK] lay down their arms, it is [our
stance] to completely stop military operations'';
Whereas Masoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Regional Government in
northern Iraq, stated on April 20, 2012, ``The PKK should lay down its
arms. . . . If the PKK goes ahead with weapons, it will bear the
consequences.'';
Whereas the PKK has support networks in countries in Europe, which engage in
illicit and deceptive activities to facilitate PKK recruitment,
financing, logistical support, training, and propaganda, including
satellite television broadcasting and print media that support the PKK's
violent terrorist agenda;
Whereas, according to the 2011 EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report,
published by the European Police Office (EUPOL), the PKK is ``actively
involved in money laundering, illicit drugs and human trafficking, as
well as illegal immigration inside and outside the EU,'' and fundraises
in the EU ``using labels like `donations' and `membership fees', but are
in fact extortion and illegal taxation'';
Whereas the Europe-based satellite television channel, Roj TV, was banned from
broadcasting in Germany by the German Interior Ministry in 2008 and, in
January 2012, convicted by a court in Denmark for ``promoting
terrorism'' as an undeclared propaganda arm of the PKK;
Whereas PKK-affiliated television channels continue to operate in European
countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Denmark;
Whereas Turkey since 1952 has been a member of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO);
Whereas the armed forces of Turkey and the United States have served together as
allies during the Korean War, in Kosovo, in Afghanistan, and in the 2011
NATO intervention in Libya, Operation Unified Protector;
Whereas President George W. Bush said of Turkey, ``[Turkey's] success is vital
to a future of progress and peace in Europe and in the broader Middle
East--and the Republic of Turkey can depend on the support and
friendship of the United States''; and
Whereas President Obama said of Turkey, ``Turkey is a critical ally. Turkey is
an important part of Europe. And Turkey and the United States must stand
together, and work together, to overcome the challenges of our time'':
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) condemns the continued campaign of terrorism by the
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and expresses solidarity with
the victims of PKK violence;
(2) reaffirms that the PKK is a common enemy of the United
States and Turkey, and all responsible countries and
governments in the world;
(3) urges the PKK to lay down its arms, renounce violence,
and pursue peaceful dialogue with the Government of Turkey;
(4) commends the historic steps taken by the Government of
Turkey to address the sources of grievance and alienation that
have been exploited by the PKK to justify acts of terrorism;
(5) welcomes efforts by the United States Government to
support the Government of Turkey in developing and implementing
a comprehensive strategy to eliminate the threat posed by the
PKK;
(6) encourages the United States Government to make
available diplomatic, military, and intelligence support to the
Government of Turkey so that it can apprehend or eliminate
irreconcilable violent elements of the PKK;
(7) applauds the deepening economic and political ties
between the Government of Turkey and the Kurdistan Regional
Government in Iraq;
(8) supports greater cooperation between and among the
relevant authorities in Turkey, the United States, the Iraqi
Kurdistan Region, and Iraq to end the PKK sanctuary in the
Qandil Mountains of northern Iraq;
(9) urges increased intelligence and counterterrorism
cooperation among the governments of the United States, Turkey,
Germany, and other countries in Europe to disrupt and eliminate
PKK support networks based in Europe, including PKK financing
and fundraising; and
(10) urges the European Union and governments in Europe--
(A) to take measures to ensure the PKK cannot use
their territories for fundraising, recruitment,
financing, logistical support, training, and
propaganda; and
(B) to ban and prevent from operating on their
territory any media, including satellite broadcasting
stations, that is financed, controlled, or coordinated
by the PKK or that promotes the PKK's violent terrorist
agenda.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3843)
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