29 October 2010
Speaking to Radikal PKK leader said dialogue and trust-building steps on the part of the state are important
In an interview published in daily Radikal, Murat Karayılan asked about the ceasefire said that “steps that would instill confidence should be taken. Halting [military] operations could be one of them. Developing the dialogue with Öcalan is important. The latest dialogue was Sept. 16.”
As for a return to armed struggle the PKK leader said that no civilians will be harmed should there be any future attacks by the PKK (Kurdistan Worker's Party). "In any action by the PKK, even in cities, not causing harm to civilians will be our fundamental principle,” said Karayılan. “We have also made some mistakes. - he added - If an opportunity occurs, when the time comes, we can apologize for our mistakes and would try to amend them. But we shall not forget that the state tried to blame us for some things we did not do.”
And he concluded by saying that “despite this fact, I can talk with more confidence about training our forces to not harm civilians.”
In his interview with Radikal, Karayılan also said the Kurdish issue could not be solved by cooperating with neighboring states or through military operations. “We have the experience to protect ourselves and keep ourselves alive in these mountains. We know these lands well” he said.
Karayılan added that “the solution must be a reality based on this situation,” he said. “If it takes longer [to reach], the losses from both sides will be higher.”
Saying that “some the things happen despite us” and that the PKK has not made any decision yet, Karayılan added: “We cannot be optimistic while there is a negative atmosphere ... We would take our fingers off the trigger but they will not. This [situation] is not possible.”
And again the PKK leader said that “the state understood after developments in 2008 and 2009 that complete denial [of Kurds] does not work. That is why the military and the state came closer to each other.”
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
