04/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - A European Commission spokesman said on Saturday that a letter addressed on 20 November to PKK officials from a Commission official responsible for relations with Turkey was a "very regrettable mistake". The official signed the letter (which, in particular, said that Turkey did not respect the rights of the Kurds) "on behalf of" Romano Prodi, but the Commission president was unaware of it, said the spokesman, Mr. Kemppinen, stressing that the Commission considers the Turkish Government as its "only official partner". Friday, an EU representative was convened by the Turkish authorities in Ankara for explanations. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz declared that it was an "absolute disgrace" that such a letter could be sent, "with or without the backing of the Commission".