Saudi-European Parliamentary Friendship Committee discusses cooperation during Strasbourg visit    Diriyah to host third IMFC Deputies meeting under Saudi chairmanship    15,135 decisions taken to penalize Saudis and expats for violations    Saudi stock market loses half a trillion riyals, with Aramco's losses amounting to SR340 billion Tariff turmoil rattles Gulf markets    KAU to host Digital Communication Conference in Jeddah from April 29 to May 1    TGA: Riyadh tops with 45% of 290 million orders delivered in 2024    Aja and Salma mountains draw nature lovers to Hail's rugged landscapes    US revokes all visas for South Sudanese nationals over deportation dispute    Death toll from Myanmar earthquake rises to 3,471    Macron to hold Gaza summit with Egypt and Jordan in Cairo    Benzema rescues Al Ittihad with stoppage-time equalizer in thrilling Jeddah Derby    Al Qadsiah and Al Ettifaq share spoils in tense Eastern Derby stalemate    Moussa Diaby praises Al Ittihad's resilience after Jeddah Derby draw "When you can't win, you take a point"    Saudi assistant referee Iman Al Madani joins AFC elite list for 2025    Riyadh Art Week launches with over 50 galleries showcasing global artistic dialogue    Turki Al-Sheikh announces five new Saudi film projects to be produced in Riyadh    Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Turkish PM says Kurd rebels must give up arms
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 29 - 09 - 2006


Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan, speaking after a jailed rebel leader called for a
ceasefire in a separatist conflict, said Kurdish militants had
to give up their weapons, media reports said on Friday, according to Reuters.
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan issued
a statement from his jail cell this week urging his guerrillas
to implement an unconditional ceasefire as violence in the
country's mainly Kurdish southeast increased.
Turkey's government and armed forces have ignored previous
PKK unilateral ceasefires and Erdogan told Samanyolu TV late on
Thursday that ceasefires could only be declared between states.
"The expression 'ceasefire' is wrong. The terror group must
give up its weapons. Our hope is that they will give up their
weapons," CNN Turk quoted Erdogan as saying.
Analysts expected the PKK to heed the call by Ocalan, who
still exerts a strong influence over the militant group and is
believed to have the backing of guerrilla leaders on the ground.
Ocalan's call followed Ankara's warnings that it was ready
to attack PKK bases in northern Iraq if U.S. and Iraqi forces
failed to act against the group. Turkey, the United States and
the European Union consider the PKK a terrorist organisation.
Erdogan's comments were echoed by Turkey's new anti-terror
coordinator retired General Edip Basar, who was recently
appointed along with a retired U.S. general as part of the
country's fight against the PKK.
He said the conflict was not just military, but had
economic, political and psychological dimensions.
"If it were possible to put an end to this matter by purely
military means, it would already be at an end," he told CNN Turk
in an interview.
Turkey's Human Rights Association said it welcomed Ocalan's
ceasefire call and issued a similar plea. The country's main
Kurdish party had made such an appeal earlier this month.
"We invite the PKK to announce a ceasefire in order to stop
the bloodshed and to open the way for a democratic and political
solution of the Kurdish problem," it said in a statement.


Clic here to read the story from its source.