Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 26 / Trend , A.Tagiyeva /
Turkey cannot combat terrorism effectively by conducting military operations in northern Iraq, Prime Minister of the Kurdish Administration in Northern Iraq Nechirvan Barzani said, CNN Turk reported.
Barzani urged both sides to lay down arms and start negotiations. He also expressed concern over that civilians living in the region killed as a result of air strikes on the positions of the Kurdish rebels.
Air strikes were conducted after the militants' terror attack in southeastern Turkey on Aug. 17, in which nine Turkish servicemen were killed.
The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has lasted for over 25 years, claiming over 40,000 lives. The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by both the UN and the EU.
PKK militants previously threatened the Turkish authorities with intensified armed conflict if concrete steps are not taken to address the long-term Kurdish problem.