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Turkish minister says resolution on peace process with Kurds close

Xinhua, February 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan said Monday that the peace process with the Kurds is close to reach a resolution.

In an interview with Turkey's Star TV, Akdogan said "we are in a good stage. I think we are approaching solutions. The coming days and weeks will reap beneficial developments."

The outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and other countries, took up armed conflict in 1984 in an attempt to create an ethnic homeland for the Kurds in southeast Turkey.

He restated that outlawed PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, called for a ceasefire during the Newroz feast celebrations March 21, 2013 and for the PKK forces to withdraw out of Turkey.

Akdogan added that "I think we can expect a more serious call than that of 2013 from Ocalan in the near future, and we will witness results by the spring."

Turkish authorities began peace negotiations with the PKK in October 2012, which led to a ceasefire in March 2013, but PKK fighters returned to their northern Iraq strongholds in May last year. Endit