US maintains PKK’s Foreign Terrorist Organisation designation

<p>The US State Department this month issued a statement maintaining the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK’s) designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).</p> <p>"Today’s actions notify the U.S. public and the international community that the PKK remains a terrorist organization. In addition to its continued status as an FTO, the PKK has also been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224 since 2001," the State Department said in its statement.&nbsp;</p> <p>The PKK is a Kurdish separatist organisation based in Turkey where it has conducted attacks. Turkey's president has vowed to finish off the PKK.</p> <p>The initial US designation of Kurdish militia came in 1997. Since 2001, the PKK has also been designated as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist”.&nbsp;</p> <p>The issued statement further focuses on targetting&nbsp;the avenues of funding available for the PKK, including the targeting and isolating individuals and groups with connections to the PKK and denying them access to the US financial system.</p> <p>The Department also maintains the designation can further support work other US agencies and governments.</p> <p>You can read the full statement here.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>