EU calls immediate Turkey-PKK ceasefire

ANKARA, Turkey (K24) - Top European Union (EU) diplomat Federica Mogherini called Monday for an immediate ceasefire and a return to peace negotiations between Turkey and Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), reports K24 Ankara.

"ONLY WAY FOR PEACE"

At a press conference in Ankara following a meeting with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the EU, stressed that dialogue between the Turkish government and the PKK was "the only way to peace and stability in the country and also most likely in the region."

A renewed armed conflict between the Turkish Army and PKK fighters has turned residential areas in towns and cities throughout Turkey's Kurdish regions into battlefields where hundreds of civilians, soldiers and guerillas have been killed.

Mogherini has repeatedly called to renew peace talks between the Turkish government and the PKK since the collapse of a nearly two-year ceasefire in 2015.

The head of EU foreign affairs also condemned "all forms of terrorist attacks, including by the PKK," but added that the EU delegation would further discuss the situation in Kurdish areas in "the continuation of our talks."

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Mogherini also voiced concern regarding the issues of the rule of law, human rights, including the freedom of expression, assembly, and independence of the judiciary in Turkey and said that she knew the Turkish government has an "ambitious reform agenda" that the EU valued.

Throughout January, Turkey has received much national and international controversy over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's insults, name-calling and pro-government media attacks targeting over 1,000 Turkish, Kurdish and Western academics who signed a petition in December condemning Turkey's crackdown in Kurdistan.

Police detained and later released dozens of academics and several universities sacked staff members who signed the petition.

EU-TURKEY TALKS

Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu reiterated his country's commitment "to fight terror," including the PKK and Islamic State (IS).

Mogherini and a high-level delegation accompanying her met with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. These meetings were closed to media, and no official statements were released afterward.

However, K24 Ankara reports that the discussions primarily focused on the refugee crisis, the fight against the IS, and Turkey's decades-long EU accession process.

Reporting by Nevin Diri and Adnan Gerger in Ankara; Editing by Benjamin Kweskin