Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 18
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the militants of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to lay down arms, Sabah newspaper wrote on Monday.
According to Erdogan, 2014 will be a year of political normalization and stability in Turkey.
It was reported earlier that militants of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) threaten a resumption of military operations in Turkey.
According to the TV channel, this statement was made by the head of PKK's political wing Cemil Bayik.
The TV channel also reported that the terrorist organisation's militants are ready to return to Turkey in the case of their demands not being fulfilled.
The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state has continued for over 25 years and claimed the lives of more than 40,000. The PKK is recognised as a terrorist organisation by the UN and the European Union.
Earlier, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Beshir Atalay said the country will continue its efforts to ensure the withdrawal of PKK militants from Turkey.
According to him, currently the withdrawal of the militants from the country is a priority for Ankara.
Previously, imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan urged members of the organisation to lay down their arms and leave Turkey.
Turkish authorities promised to create conditions for a safe withdrawal of all PKK militants who surrendered and they began to leave Turkey on May 8.
According to the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinch, nearly 2000 militants belonging to the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party were in the country and some 20 per cent of them have already left.