PM Erdoğan: "A Positive Move"

Referring to Abdullah Öcalan's Newroz statement on the withdrawal of PKK guerrillasfrom Turkey, PM Erdoğan said he saw it as a positive move.

"Frankly, I see it as a positive move. It is a positive invitation. It is a positive call. But it is also important to see these moves in practice."

PM Erdoğan also emphasized on the withdrawal of PKK's military wing from Turkey.

"They [PKK] should lay down arms. The ones who were involved in the guerrilla campaign should leave our country. Then our [Turkish] security forces will not have a luxury of launching operations. It is important to see these moves in practice. The messages [Öcalan's] is in harmony with our messages."

Speaking at a conference in The Hague yesterday, PM Erdoğan criticized that Diyarbakir's newroz demonstrators flashed no Turkish flags in the area.

"I should admit this frankly. I wish that demonstrators in Diyarbakir carried Turkish flags in the celebrations. I see this as a provocative move from the ones who want to influence the process negatively." (AS/BM)