(6 Nov 2007)
AP Television
Washington, DC
1. Handshake between US President Bush and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Pool
Washington, DC
2. Erdogan walks up to podium
3. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister:
"Turkey expects from the United States and the central Iraqi government concrete and urgent steps that will put a final end to PKK terrorism emanating from northern Iraq. In this context our government will continue to take necessary measures in fighting against the separatist terrorist organisation."
4. Erdogan listening to question and walking up to podium
5. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister:
"Our aim, our sole aim here is the PKK terrorist organisation based in northern Iraq. This must be well understood by all of the international community as Turkey takes steps to protect its legitimate right of defence. Turkey is ready to take steps jointly with the United States."
6. SOUNDITE: (English) Jerry Zremski, National Press Club President
"What is your position on President Musharraf's declaration of a state of emergency in Pakistan and have you communicated with Islamabad since the declaration?"
7. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister
"Of course, it is not something that we would like to see. It is not possible to accept this state of affairs, having a military control is not something that people believing in democracy can accept. It is our wish to see the democratic agenda is followed in Pakistan and the election takes place."
8. Erdogan walks off stage and shakes hands with audience
AP Television
New York, DC
9. Various of Pro-Kurdish demonstration
STORYLINE
The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with US President George W Bush on Monday amid rising tensions over Kurdish rebels staging attacks from northern Iraq.
The meeting of the leaders was viewed as pivotal in influencing the next move by Turkey, which is weighing a military strike against rebels from the PKK or Kurdistan Workers' Party in northern Iraq.
Trying to head off a Turkish attack in northern Iraq, President Bush on Monday told Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the United States (US) will share military intelligence in the hunt for the Kurdish rebels.
The assurance seemed to satisfy Erdogan, who said: "I'm happy."
However, Erdogan said later in a speech at the National Press Club Press conference that Turkey expected the US and Iraq to work with his country to end the PKK threat to Turkey.
"Turkey expects from the United States and the central Iraqi government concrete and urgent steps that will put a final end to PKK terrorism emanating from northern Iraq. In this context our government will continue to take necessary measures in fighting against the separatist terrorist organisation," he said.
With thousands of Turkish troops massed on the border of his country, Erdogan maintained that Turkey has the authority to mount a cross-border incursion. He said nothing to indicate his intentions or remove that option from consideration.
"Our aim, our sole aim here is the PKK terrorist organisation based in northern Iraq. This must be well understood by all of the international community as Turkey takes steps to protect its legitimate right of defence. Turkey is ready to take steps jointly with the United States," he said.
The separatist group in Iraq, deemed a terrorist organisation by the US, is responsible for killing more than 40 Turks in the past month in cross-border raids.
The White House has lobbied for a diplomatic solution between Turkey and Iraq.

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