PKK should abandon its arms and leave Turkey - Erdoğan

The aim of Turkey’s ongoing peace process is to convince the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to abandon its arms and leave Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said today during a press conference in Niger, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

"Our sincerity can be seen in the steps we have been taking," Erdoğan said. "The aim is to have the separatist terrorist organization leave Turkey. [It should] give up arms and leave Turkey."

Erdoğan, who was speaking in Niamey, started his African tour on Jan. 6 in Gabon. After Niger, he will head for talks in Senegal.

Turkey will sign several bilateral agreements with the three African countries during Erdoğan’s tour, which is designed to provide concrete steps to further develop Turkey’s relations with the continent.