UPDATE - Russia urged to shut down office linked to PKK/PYD

UPDATE WITH REMARKS OF NATIONAL DEFENSE COMMISSION MEMBER

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey-Russia inter-parliamentary friendship group’s head on Monday called on Russia to shut down PKK/PYD-linked Rojava representative office in Moscow.

In a meeting with Russian parliamentarian delegation in Turkish parliament, Ziya Altunyaldiz called on Russia to cut ties with the terrorist organization.

Altunyaldiz said that Rojava representative office should end its cultural activities. "The cultural activities by terrorist organizations will just serve terrorism."

"We expect from our friend Russia not to allow PKK to carry out its propaganda and members’ recruitment," said the lawmaker from Turkey's central Konya province.

The PKK/PYD-linked Rojava representative office was opened in Moscow on Feb. 10, 2016.

The PKK/PYD is the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist network, which has waged war against Turkey for more than 30 years. Turkey considers the PKK, PYD and YPG as one and the same.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and EU as well as Turkey -- resumed its armed campaign in July 2015. Since then, it has killed more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children.

The State Duma’s deputy Umakhan Umakhanov, for his part, said that Russia-Turkey relations have been improving day by day.

Umakhanov attached importance of cooperation in fighting terrorism. "Terrorism is not only an enemy of a city, a region or a state but also of the entire world.”

Also on Monday, Turkish Parliament's National Defense Commission Member Murat Baybatur met with the Russian delegation.

Baybatur recalled that the trade volume between the two countries had reached $17.8 billion.

"We aim to increase this number to $100 billion," said the lawmaker from Turkey's western Manisa province.

He also called for lifting of visas between the two countries.

After Turkey shot down a Russian military jet over an airspace violation in November 2015, Moscow took several measures against Ankara, including banning the imports of Turkish agricultural products and ending visa-free travel for Turks.

In June, Moscow lifted the ban on some agricultural produce as well as Turkish firms involved in construction, engineering, and tourism.