Turkish PM gives first-ever speech at military academy

ISTANBUL-Hürriyet Daily News

AA Photo

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a historic speech to military officers yesterday during his first visit to the Turkish Military Academy since coming to power in 2003.

The speech was recorded and shown later to members of the press who had been kept outside while Erdoğan was giving his speech.

The prime minister answered questions from reporters afterwards before departing for meetings in Seoul.
When asked about the fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Erdoğan said he had already made a statement on the matter.

"What was that statement? Fighting against the terrorist organization to the end, and negotiations with its political extensions. We said that we were always ready for this. Surely, as a political will, we never negotiate with terrorists. But I will say ‘the extensions within the Parliament,’ as you know who they are,” he said.

“As long as they are honest, we will keep on negotiating because our goal is to find a solution. It will be impossible to talk to them if they speak for İmralı or Kandil rather then speak for themselves,” he said.

The PKK’s jailed leader is on İmralı island in the Sea of Marmara, while most of the group’s leadership is found in the Kandil Mountains of northern Iraq.