Ambassador Christer Asp said: “The developments that occurred at the Habur border gate are a positive and significant step for the democratic initiative. We know that it is a long process. But this [surrender of militants] is an important step,” replying to a reporter's question during a visit to Trabzon by a group of diplomats from various EU countries including 17 ambassadors.
He also said that the EU supports the government's democratic initiative, which attempts to find a settlement to the country's Kurdish question and convince the PKK to lay down its arms.
“The EU supports every kind of initiative which will bring more democracy to the Turkish people. The Turkish government has clearly expressed that one part of this initiative is related to the country's terrorism problem. In this context, the PKK will have to lay down its arms for the resolution [of the Kurdish problem] to distance itself from violence and to be peaceful,” noted Asp.
A group consisting of 34 PKK militants surrendered to Turkish authorities on Monday, entering the country through the Habur border gate at the Iraqi border. They were taken into custody and after their interrogation by Turkish officials were gradually released.
Commenting on the opening of the historic Sümela Monastery for worship, the Swedish ambassador noted that it is the Turkish government that decides how to use the cultural wealth of the country. Hungarian Ambassador Istvan Szabo likened the state monastery to the Gül Baba tomb in Budapest, saying: “The Gül Baba tomb is a museum, but Muslims visiting there are allowed to pray during their visit to the tomb. The Hungarian government does not interfere with the worship of Muslims there.”
