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German FM warns Turkey against breaking peace talks with PKK

Xinhua, July 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on Turkey on Monday to maintain peace talks launched with the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).

The warning comes as Turkey continues shelling the organization.

Speaking on telephone with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, Steinmeier has expressed "understanding for Turkey's decision to take steps against those who are responsible for the terrible terrorist attacks of recent days", according to a statement.

At the same time, the minister has emphasized that "the peace process so painstakingly established with the Kurds must not be derailed."

"The already complex situation would thereby be made more difficult," Steinmeier said.

Turkey scrambled several F-16 fighter jets on Sunday evening to hit PKK targets in northern Iraq, according to media reports. The attack is the latest in Ankara's move against PKK militants in Iraq.

Late Friday night, Turkey launched the first round of air strikes against camps of PKK in northern Iraq and targets of the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.

Turkey launched the retaliatory strikes after a wave of attacks in recent days against its security forces that have been blamed on PKK militants. The PKK announced on Saturday that there was no longer any cease-fire between the Turkish government and the PKK. Endit