He added that he rejected linking terrorism to any ethnic group or religion, again a point debated by Muslim Uighurs who have been rounded up in anti-terror sweeps.

VOA: standard.2009.11.07

That point was echoed by U.S.Senator Richard Lugar.

VOA: standard.2009.09.29

"I think I can happily say that we are at point where by we are happy with these developments vis-a-vis Turkey's relations with Iraqi Kurdistan and vis-a-vis its own Kurdish issue inside Turkey."

VOA: standard.2010.06.17

"They have gone through the past month or so of very hard effort to reach the point where they can begin to consolidate and control ground that they have won so, by no means this is over yet.

VOA: standard.2009.07.27