Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Sunday said that Turkey hopes to “completely neutralize” the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror organization in the close future.
"The terror group is experiencing serious failure following our decisive fight. Their terror activities have been largely restrained. Hopefully, we will come to a position to completely neutralize them," Hulusi Akar said at an award ceremony in the capital Ankara.
Akar said the counter-terror efforts were "necessary and obligatory" for Turkey's security.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.
He also stressed the importance of protecting Turkey’s rights in Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
“We will continue to protect our rights and benefits in Aegean, in the Eastern Mediterranean and in ‘blue homeland'," he added.