[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>