Reconciliation process shelved, Erdoğan says
Speaking to reporters on Friday President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that the reconciliation process he launched with the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in order to end the 30-year conflict between the terrorist PKK and the state has been shelved after the recent violent attacks by the PKK on security forces and civilians in eastern Turkey.
"The separatist terrorist organization [PKK] is intent on splitting the country. We have put up with it so far. I have to say that the [reconciliation] process is shelved. All of us have to do our part for the sake of our country," he said, following news of the death of eight soldiers in a bomb attack by the PKK in Turkey's southeastern Siirt province, which caused an outburst across the country.
"We tried to build a structure based on brotherhood. Many unpleasant incidents took place after the elections while we were expecting an improvement in democracy," he added.
Referring to the Kobani incidents in October 2014 when pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş called on people to take to the streets in eastern Turkey, the president described it as the most unfortunate term in the reconciliation process.
The Kobani protests broke out in early October last year after a call issued by Demirtaş. More than 50 people died in clashes that erupted in over 35 cities between pro- and anti-PKK groups. Many Kurdish citizens lost their lives, and schools, police stations, dormitories were destroyed.
"Who invited them to the streets? It was the co-chair of the political party [HDP] that is backed by the PKK. But some media circles supported him during that time," Erdoğan said, asserting that it is not possible for Turkey to make concessions anymore.
Turkey has been hit by violence since a suicide bomb attack by a suspected Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) supporter killed 32 activists in Suruç on July 20.
The government has intensified counterterror operations following recent attacks carried out by the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU and Turkey.
Formed in 1978, the terrorist group has been fighting the Turkish government for an independent state until the early 2000s. The group then shifted its goal to autonomy in the predominately Kurdish regions of Turkey.
The PKK announced on July 11 that the cease-fire, which was declared via a message from the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan in 2013, had ended.
Turkish security forces have arrested hundreds of people with suspected links to ISIS, the PKK, and leftist groups, detaining over 1,300 people across the country, according to a recent statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.
"The separatist terrorist organization [PKK] is intent on splitting the country. We have put up with it so far. I have to say that the [reconciliation] process is shelved. All of us have to do our part for the sake of our country," he said, following news of the death of eight soldiers in a bomb attack by the PKK in Turkey's southeastern Siirt province, which caused an outburst across the country.
"We tried to build a structure based on brotherhood. Many unpleasant incidents took place after the elections while we were expecting an improvement in democracy," he added.
Referring to the Kobani incidents in October 2014 when pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş called on people to take to the streets in eastern Turkey, the president described it as the most unfortunate term in the reconciliation process.
The Kobani protests broke out in early October last year after a call issued by Demirtaş. More than 50 people died in clashes that erupted in over 35 cities between pro- and anti-PKK groups. Many Kurdish citizens lost their lives, and schools, police stations, dormitories were destroyed.
"Who invited them to the streets? It was the co-chair of the political party [HDP] that is backed by the PKK. But some media circles supported him during that time," Erdoğan said, asserting that it is not possible for Turkey to make concessions anymore.
Turkey has been hit by violence since a suicide bomb attack by a suspected Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) supporter killed 32 activists in Suruç on July 20.
The government has intensified counterterror operations following recent attacks carried out by the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU and Turkey.
Formed in 1978, the terrorist group has been fighting the Turkish government for an independent state until the early 2000s. The group then shifted its goal to autonomy in the predominately Kurdish regions of Turkey.
The PKK announced on July 11 that the cease-fire, which was declared via a message from the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan in 2013, had ended.
Turkish security forces have arrested hundreds of people with suspected links to ISIS, the PKK, and leftist groups, detaining over 1,300 people across the country, according to a recent statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.
Last Update: August 21, 2015 21:45