Ankara, March 23 (IANS) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called on the outlawed Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) to lay down arms in order to facilitate a settlement of the four-decadea” old Kurdish insurgency in the country.
“Peace is not possible under the threat of weapons,” Erdogan said at a meeting of local community administers, according to a Xinhua report.
Representatives of the Kurdish movement promised earlier to lay down their arms, though “promises are repeatedly broken,” according to the president.
“We cannot advance unless we see concrete steps,” he stated, adding that the government wanted to see the laying down of arms by the militant group in “reality” as part of the settlement process.
Jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan Ocalan on Saturday urged his followers to convene “to end a decade-long armed struggle” with Turkey.
“I find it necessary that the PKK convene to end the four-decade old armed struggle with the Republic of Turkey,” Ocalan said.
In 2011, the Turkish Justice and Development Party (AKP) government held talks with Ocalan who is jailed on Imrali Island in the Sea of Marmara.
The government and Ocalan have agreed on a 10-page document, including a point demanding that the PKK to relinquish their arms.
The PKK has been fighting the Turkish government for increased rights and autonomy. Around 40,000 individuals have been killed in the conflict.