VAN, Turkey
Turkey's prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu has called for the respect of solution process promises at an iftar dinner Tuesday in the Tusba district of the eastern province of Van.
The solution process refers to the efforts of the Turkish government, launched in 2013, to end the decades-old conflict with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the country's eastern and southeastern regions, which resulted in a call for a congress for disarmament from jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.
"Every weapon, which is carried illegitimately in Turkey, is an assault device that targets peace and brotherhood," said Davutoglu.
Davutoglu stated that people who believe in democracy, freedom, peace and human rights, have to talk about disarmament.
"It must be known that the promises, which were given in May 2013, must be fulfilled for the solution process, national unity and brotherhood to prevail," he added.
"The HDP [pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party] which does not have a clear attitude against the separatist terror organization and keeps on talking about 'peace' but remains silent on attacks."
"They [The HDP] should know that if someone tries to disturb the peace in any way, we will take measures against them and will never allow our citizens' peace to be broken," he said.
Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization.
Decades of conflict between the PKK and Turkish security forces have led to the deaths of some 40,000 people.
