EU reiterates PKK as terrorist group

BRUSSELS, March 20 (KUNA) -- The European Union once again underlined Monday that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is a terrorist organization.
"PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by all the 28 European Union members. This is being implemented. The Turkish authorities are informed by the work that is being done by EU institutions. so that remains an obligation," Maja Kocijancic, a spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini told a press conference.
However, she avoided to answer a reporter's question on the holding of big demonstration by supporters of PKK in Frankfurt on Saturday and the prevention by German authorities to allow Turkish ministers to speak to the Turkish community in Germany ahead of the April 16th referendum in Turkey.
eanwhile, European Commission spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said today that the EU-Turkey deal to stop the flow of migrants to Europe "was a game changer which allowed us to break the cruel business model of smugglers exploiting human misery." "We hear many voices criticizing the agreement but we hear none providing viable alternatives that would have saved many lives," he told a news conference.
In a related development, the EU's executive body announced today the allocation of EUR 12.2 million in emergency funding to Italy to help the Italian Coast Guard to strengthen border surveillance and further increase its capacity to save lives at sea. (end) nk.ma