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Newspaper: Withdrawal process of PKK militants from Turkey suspended

Politics Materials 9 September 2013 13:38 (UTC +04:00)
Militants of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have suspended the process of withdrawal from Turkey’s territory.
Newspaper: Withdrawal process of PKK militants from Turkey suspended

Azerbaijan, Baku, September 9 /Trend, A.Taghiyeva/

Militants of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have suspended the process of withdrawal from Turkey's territory, Hürriyet newspaper reported on Monday.

One of the PKK leaders Cemil Bayik stated that the Turkish government isn't conducting any democratic reforms with regard to the country's Kurdish population and therefore PKK militants will not leave Turkey.

"If Ankara doesn't begin to carry out concrete reforms with regard to the country's Kurdish population, those militants who already left Turkey's territory, will return. Currently, the process of the militants' withdrawal from Turkey is suspended," Bayik said.

Imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan previously called on members of the organisation to lay down arms and leave the country.

The Turkish authorities promised to create the conditions for PKK militants who laid down their weapons to freely leave the country.

Militants belonging to the terrorist Kurdistan Workers Party began to leave Turkey's territory on May 8.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK over an independent Kurdish state lasted over 25 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The PKK is recognised as a terrorist organisation by the UN and European Union.

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