US VP Biden: Daesh, PKK, al-Nusra are 'terrorist groups'

US Vice President Joe Biden has said there is “no difference” between Daesh, PKK and al-Nusra qualifying the three groups as “terrorist groups “.

Biden’s remarks came during a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul on Saturday.

“They are simply terrorist groups and here in Turkey, they threaten and do harm and are of severe consequence to the interest of the people of Turkey and we do recognize that.”

Reiterating that Turkey was a “strategic partner” of the US, Biden said Turkey has been taking “very important” steps to improve security.

Biden said Daesh was not only a danger to Europe but more particularly to Turkey.

Davutoglu also said terrorism did not threaten only one country. Rather it threatened all neighboring countries.

Davutoglu: No difference between ISIS and PKK

“Whichever ethnicity terrorism is coming from, it is a humanitarian crime. We do not see any difference between PKK, al-Nusra, DHKP-C[far-left terrorist organization in Turkey], Daesh,” said Davutoglu.

Davutoglu added both the U.S. and Turkey were sensitive to the fight against all terror organizations.

“Turkey sees three threats in Syria: One is the regime, another is Daesh, and third is the YPG,” said Davutoglu, adding that the YPG (Kurdish People’s Protection Units) was part of the terrorist organization PKK.

He said that Turkey did not want to see either Daesh or PKK elements near its borders.

Davutoglu also said the PKK presence in Iraq required that Turkey bring fight to the PKK and Daesh in the region

Biden is to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan next.