Turkey Resolute To Conclude Solution Process: Deputy Pm

Turkey is determined to conclude the solution process, refering to the efforts launched in 2013 to end the decades-old conflict with the outlawed PKK, with full support of the Turkish people, Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan said Saturday.



Akdogan gave the remarks to media after he and Interior Minister Efkan Ala met with pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democracy Party, or the HDP leaders, including the party's deputy chairs, Pervin Buldan and Idris Balukan, and Istanbul Deputy Sirri Sureyya Onder at the Prime Ministry's Dolmabahce office in Istanbul. 



He said that the government valued HDP's statements on the issue of disarmament of PKK. "The government sees HDP's statements on acceleration of disarmament process as important," the deputy prime minister said.



 "Laying down arms will further develop democracy," he added.



About the government's resolve to pursue the solution process, which was launched in 2013 to end the decades-old conflict with the proscribed PKK group in Turkey's eastern and south-eastern regions, Akdogan said, "We are determined to conclude this (solution) process with full support of the public."



The deputy premier also underlined that Turkey was at a very important phase in the ongoing process.



A delegation of the HDP also went to Imrali Island Friday to speak with the imprisoned PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan.



Invitation to hold spring congress



HDP's Onder said the PKK had been invited (by Ocalan) to hold a congress in spring this year to make the historic decision to find common ground on the issue of laying down arms.



"The invitation is a historic declaration of intention to resolve the issue through democratic means instead of an armed struggle," he said.



He said that their main target was to democratically and permanently resolve the 30-year conflict.



"We call on all pro-democracy fronts and peace supporters to back the democratic debate about the solution process in Turkey," he added.



The PKK has fought for an independent Kurdish state since 1984, and its terrorist attacks have claimed around 36,000 lives in Turkey.



Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization.



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