“We are determined to save our country from the scourge of terror, which has caused deep pain to our citizens from all walks of life for 40 years, has brought a burning fire to the hearts of mothers, and has thrown dynamite into our eternal brotherhood as a nation,” Erdogan said during a speech, as reported by the state-owned Anadolu News Agency.
On Friday, the PKK said it has held a congress to discuss a call from the group’s jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan to lay down arms, dissolve the party, and make a shift from conflict to political struggle. The PKK said it would announce the outcome of the congress soon.
Erdogan expressed confidence that, with national unity, Turkey will achieve freedom from terrorism.
“We are advancing with firm steps on the path to the goal of a terror-free Turkey. Our intelligence and other security units meticulously fulfill their duties. We, too, are following up on the efforts moment by moment, without leaving even the slightest gap, in a manner befitting the seriousness of the state, with the awareness that we bear the responsibility of every individual of 86 million,” Erdogan said.
“We will respond to those who want to divide us by embracing each other even tighter. We will respond to those who try to divide us by closing our ranks. In other words, we will give 86 million hearts to hearts, and God willing, we will further strengthen and elevate love, unity, solidarity, and brotherhood," he added.
He ended his speech saying, “You can and will receive good news at any time.”
On Friday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the PKK laying down arms is “not enough.”
“It is necessary to eliminate illegal and intelligence structures. An accountable organization model should be developed by taking advantage of the opportunities provided to political parties and NGOs,” he said.
Founded in 1978 in response to oppression of the Kurdish population in Turkey, the PKK initially struggled for an independent Kurdistan but now calls for greater political and cultural rights within Turkey. Ankara and its Western allies consider the group a terrorist organization.
A similar peace process begun between the PKK and the Turkish state in 2013 collapsed two and half years later.
