Intellectuals, academics, journalists call on PKK to disarm

In support of the reconciliation process, the recently formed Peace Academy issued on Tuesday a statement regarding the latest developments in Turkey and the reconciliation process. The statement was co-signed by intellectuals, academics, journalists and artists. "In light of the recent violence and terror attacks, politicians must come together and sign a joint statement for the Peace [Reconciliation] Process to continue. The Peace Process must continue from where it left off. The PKK must lay down its arms and must leave Turkey's borders, but for this to take place the foundations must be laid by the Turkish government," the statement said. Negotiations with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan "must continue" said the statement adding that, "previously Öcalan had noted the PKK must lay down its arms, but for this to actually take place, Öcalan must be in contact with the PKK."

"The reconciliation process must be dealt with from all sides, politically, socially, economically and psychologically and all the politicians, political parties, state institutions and civil society organizations must work together to put a legal framework of the reconciliation forth," the statement said. "The media should act responsibly and should avoid any publication that promotes violence," it added.

The statement was signed by the following people: Akın Özçer, Ali Bayramoğlu, Atilla Yayla, Bekir Berat Özipek, Cahit Koytak, Cengiz Alğan, Ceren Kenar, Demiray Oral, Etyen Mahçupyan, Fadime Özkan, Fırat Erez, Gülçin Avşar, Gülden Sönmez, Gürbüz Özaltınlı, Halil Berktay Hidayet Tuksal, Hilal Kaplan, İdris Kardaş, İlhami Işık, Kutluğ Ataman ,Leyla İpekçi, Mahmut Övür, Mehmet Ali Güveli, Merve Şebnem Oruç, Murat Yılmaz, Nagehan Alçı, Oral Çalışlar, Özcan Tikit, Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, Selim Okçuoğlu, Tarık Çelenk, Musa Serdar Çelebi, Tuncer Köseoğlu, Ufuk Coşkun ,Vahap Coşkun, Yaprak Zihnioğlu and Yıldıray Oğur.