ANKARA
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned PKK's recent terror attacks on Turkey that have killed dozens of soldiers and police since Sunday.
"[Ban] conveys his condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his deep sympathy to the government and people of Turkey", read a statement issued by his spokesperson.
Countries around the world Monday condemned the terrorist attack in southeastern Turkey that resulted in the deaths of 16 soldiers.
The U.S. on Tuesday strongly condemned recent PKK attacks in Turkey that claimed the lives of more than two dozen Turkish security forces.
Sixteen soldiers were martyred and several others wounded by hand made land mines in the southeastern province of Hakkari during weekend attacks.
It was one of the deadliest attacks since the group designated a terror organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU renewed its armed offensive against Turkish security forces at the end of July.
"We strongly condemn the PKK's two terrorist attacks since the weekend, they claimed the lives of more then two dozen Turkish security forces; extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives," said Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook.
The U.S. recognizes Turkey's right to self-defense but Cook urged its government to respond proportionately, when necessary.
A White House spokesman said the U.S. stands with Turkey as an ally against terror attacks and hopes Turkey and the PKK will return to the process for finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.
NATO also condemned the attacks and pledged solidarity with Turkey. "I extend my sincere condolences to the Turkish government and to the families and loved ones affected by the recent attacks against police and military officers,” said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in a statement.
“There is no justification for terrorism. We stand in solidarity with the people and the government of our ally Turkey,” he added.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel telephoned Turkey’s prime minister Tuesday to offer condolences over the recent deaths of security forces personnel, according to a source in the prime minister’s office.
Merkel spoke to Ahmet Davutoglu following Sunday’s attack in Turkey’s southeastern province of Hakkari that saw 16 soldiers martyred - the deadliest incident since the PKK renewed its armed offensive at the end of July.
During the call, Merkel stressed that Germany also considered the PKK a terrorist organization, the source said under the customary condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, the French Foreign Ministry denounced in a statement that "terrorist attack claimed by the PKK against military vehicles in the southeast of Turkey" and offered condolences to the families of the victims as well as France’s "solidarity with the Turkish authorities".
The U.S. embassy in Ankara also has condemned the terrorist PKK organization's attack, in which 16 Turkish soldiers were martyred in southeastern Turkey on Sunday.
A message on the U.S. embassy’s official Twitter feed said: "We condemn the PKK’s terrorist attack in Daglica, and extend our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives."
"We stand with Turkey in the fight against terror, and repeat our call to the PKK – renounce violence and return to the peace process," it said.
Furkan Cako, a Macedonian government minister, said the country "strongly condemned the vicious attack".
The minister, who is of Turkish origin, offered condolences to the soldiers’ families and the Turkish nation.
Albanian lawmaker Shpetim Idrizi said in a statement: "On the nature of this event, I want to state one more time that the nation of Albania is with Turkish nation."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Glevin Dervishi also strongly condemned the attack.
The deputy president of Montenegro’s national assembly, Sulyo Mustofic, described the attack in Daglica, Hakkari province, as an act of terrorism designed to weaken Turkey.
Serbian Mufti Muhammed Yusufspahic decried the attack on a peaceful, developing country. "Now there are people who want to hinder this development," he said.
The head of the Green Crescent Society in Bosnia, Reco Causevic, offered his condolences and support.
In Ankara, the Pakistan embassy released a statement in which is said it "condemns every form and manifestation of terrorism".
The statement added: "We are with the families who lost their relatives in our prayers and sentiments.
EU condemns terror attacks in Turkey
The European Union condemned Tuesday the latest terror attacks in Turkey that saw at least 30 security forces martyred by the PKK terror organization.
"We strongly condemn the PKK terror attacks," Maja Kocijancic, the union’s spokeswoman for foreign affairs and security, said at a news conference in Brussels.
Thirteen police officers were martyred Tuesday in an attack in eastern Igdir province while 16 died in an attack Sunday in Hakkari province.
Kocijancic called for the resumption of a two-and-a-half year "solution process" that came to an end with the resumption of PKK's violent attacks in late July.
"We continue to support the solution process," she said.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also offered his sympathies in a call to Davutoglu Tuesday.
Sunday evening’s attack saw 16 soldiers martyred when their armored vehicles were targeted by roadside bombs planted by the terrorist PKK organization, according to the Turkish military.
