MIDEAST-CRISIS/TURKEY ERDOGAN Turkey's Erdogan says impossible to continue peace process with Kurdish militants

Record ID: 145937

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/TURKEY ERDOGAN Turkey's Erdogan says impossible to continue peace process with Kurdish militants
  • Date: 28th July 2015
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (JULY 28, 2015) (REUTERS) TURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING: "I want our people to be sure of that, those who walk in the countryside and in big cities wearing masks and carrying guns and petrol bombs, will get the necessary response from our security forces and judiciary bodies." REPORTERS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING: "Today, NATO has an urgent meeting which will include this subject. I believe that NATO will declare they are ready to take the necessary steps which they are supposed to take after this meeting." REPORTERS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING: "The removal of any threat and establishment of a safe zone in the area that is mentioned as the supply zones by us, will also be a foundation for the ones who expect to return back to their country, amongst 1.7 million of Syrian citizens taking shelter in our land." REPORTERS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING: "We are going to revisit those issues during this visit. Any offer that will enrich this acceptable offer will be welcomed by us too. Because the real important subject is the mutual benefit of the countries." REPORTERS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING: "It is not possible for us to continue the peace process with those who threaten our national unity and brotherhood. There should have been a national unity and brotherhood. Brotherhood comes above the peace process and it is a very comprehensive subject." REPORTERS TAKING NOTES ERDOGAN LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 12th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2FOTFOOP76QORE9PV1P9F1BR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday (July 28) it was impossible to continue a peace process with Kurdish militants and that a safe zone should pave the way for the return of some 1.7 million refugees from Turkey to Syria.
    NATO on Tuesday offered political support for Turkey's campaign against militants in Syria and Iraq at an emergency meeting, and Erdogan signalled the alliance may have a duty to become more involved.
    Turkey requested urgent consultations with its 27 NATO allies in Brussels after stepping up its role in the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State with air strikes, also hitting Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) camps in Iraq at the weekend.
    In the run-up, both NATO and Turkey played down any idea that the military alliance might provide air or ground support for Turkey's dramatic change in strategy, but Erdogan suggested otherwise at a news conference before leaving for China.
    "Today, NATO has an urgent meeting which will include this subject. I believe that NATO will declare they are ready to take the necessary steps which they are supposed to take after this meeting," Edrogan said.
    Beyond NATO's political endorsement, the United States, the dominant power in the alliance, has made some concessions by pledging to work with Turkey to create a safe zone inside Syria for displaced persons from the civil war that should relieve some of the refugee pressure on Ankara.
    Erdogan said that should pave the way for the return of some 1.7 million refugees from Turkey to Syria.
    "The removal of any threat and establishment of a safe zone in the area that is mentioned as the supply zones by us, will also be a foundation for the ones who expect to return back to their country, amongst 1.7 million of Syrian citizens taking shelter in our land," he said.
    Edrogan also said that Turkey is open to an improved offer from its preferred bidder China in a long-range missile defence system tender.
    Turkey chose China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corp in 2013 as the preferred candidate for the $3.4 billion deal, prompting U.S. and Western concern about security and the compatibility of the weaponry with NATO systems.
    The agreement with China then languished, and Turkey re-opened negotiations with U.S. and European firms over its first-long-range missile defence system. Ankara said China had not met all requirements of the multi-billion-dollar deal.
    "We are going to revisit those issues during this visit. Any offer that will enrich this acceptable offer will be welcomed by us too. Becasue the real important subject is the mutual benefit of the countries."
    Erdogan said it was impossible to continue a peace process with Kurdish militants and urged parliament to strip politicians with links to "terrorist groups" of their immunity from prosecution.
    Erdogan's comments come days after the Turkish air force bombed camps in northern Iraq of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The PKK said the air strikes rendered the peace process meaningless, but had stopped short of formally pulling out.
    "It is not possible for us to continue the peace process with those who threaten our national unity and brotherhood. There should have been a national unity and brotherhood. Brotherhood comes above the peace process and it is a very comprehensive subject," he said.
    Turkey launched negotiations in 2012 to try to end a PKK insurgency, largely fought in the predominantly Kurdish southeast, that has killed 40,000 people since 1984.
    A fragile ceasefire had been holding since March 2013, but Turkey launched the air strikes after several police officers and soldiers were killed in attacks blamed on the PKK.
    Some Kurds say that by reviving open conflict with the PKK, Erdogan is seeking to undermine support for the pro-Kurdish HDP opposition party ahead of a possible early election and stoke up nationalist sentiment.
    The HDP won a surprise 13 percent of the vote in a June 7 poll, helping to deprive the AKP, which Erdogan founded, from a majority in parliament for the first time since 2002. Kurds make up nearly 20 percent of Turkey's population of 77 million.
    Turkey has shut down almost all Kurdish political parties over the years. Erdogan, who has recently accused the HDP of links to the PKK, said he opposed party closures, but urged parliament to lift the immunity of politicians with links to "terrorist groups".
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