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Kurdish peace 'impossible' - Turkey's Erdogan Kurdish peace 'impossible' - Turkey's Erdogan
(about 1 hour later)
The Turkish president has said that Turkey cannot continue the peace process with the Kurds amid attacks by Kurdish militants on Turkish targets. The Turkish president has said his country cannot continue the peace process with the Kurds amid attacks by Kurdish militants on Turkish targets.
It came as Nato discussed Turkish campaigns against the Islamic State (IS) group and Kurdish militants. There has been a recent series of clashes between Turkish forces and Kurdish PKK militants.
Turkey has been hit by a series of attacks - including 32 killed by IS-linked militants in the Kurdish-majority town of Suruc on 20 July. Turkey has also been hit by attacks by by Islamic State-linked militants - including one that left 32 dead in the town of Suruc last week.
Turkey is backing plans for a buffer zone on the border with Syria. Turkey considers both the PKK and IS terrorist organisations.
Turkey says it draws no distinction between the PKK and IS, considering them both terrorist organisations.
Over the past week, analysts say, Turkey has turned its approach to the US-led coalition against IS on its head.Over the past week, analysts say, Turkey has turned its approach to the US-led coalition against IS on its head.
Previously a reluctant partner, it is now flying combat missions and making its airbases available to US jets.Previously a reluctant partner, it is now flying combat missions and making its airbases available to US jets.
Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds Explainer: Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds
Tit-for-tatTit-for-tat
Tensions have surged along Turkey's southern borders with Syria and Iraq - a part of Turkey where a conflict between the PKK and government troops has killed about 40,000 people since 1984. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Ankara that it was "not possible to continue the peace process with those who threaten our national unity and brotherhood".
There has been a series of tit-for-tat attacks between Turkish forces and Kurdish militants.
President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Ankara that it was "not possible to continue the peace process with those who threaten our national unity and brotherhood".
But the leader of Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition party - the People's Democratic Party (HDP) - dismissed the claim.But the leader of Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition party - the People's Democratic Party (HDP) - dismissed the claim.
HDP chairman Selahattin Demirtas insisted his party's only crime was winning 13% of the vote in June elections, reported Reuters news agency.HDP chairman Selahattin Demirtas insisted his party's only crime was winning 13% of the vote in June elections, reported Reuters news agency.
Turkish police have continued to arrest suspected members of IS, the PKK and leftist groups - more than 1,000 over the past week.Turkish police have continued to arrest suspected members of IS, the PKK and leftist groups - more than 1,000 over the past week.
Although Turkey insists Syrian Kurds are "outside the scope of the current military effort", analysts say its new determination to tackle IS is linked to keeping a check on Kurdish militancy.Although Turkey insists Syrian Kurds are "outside the scope of the current military effort", analysts say its new determination to tackle IS is linked to keeping a check on Kurdish militancy.
Analysis: Mark Lowen, BBC News, Istanbul Speaking after Mr Erdogan, a spokesman for the ruling AK Party insisted that the peace process with Kurdish militants could continue if "terrorist elements" put down their weapons and left the country.
The Turkish government has long been accused of at best turning a blind eye to the rise of IS - and at worst, actively backing the jihadists against the Assad regime. It has always denied the allegation. "We cannot say that the peace process is de facto over," Besir Atalay told a news conference in Ankara.
But last week came the suicide bombing in Suruc, southern Turkey, in which 32 died and which Turkey blamed on a militant trained by IS. "There is currently a stagnation in the mechanism but it would restart where it left off if these intentions emerge."
Ankara's strategy is complex. Alongside the IS strikes, Turkey has now bombed several PKK positions and arrested hundreds of suspected members of the group. Analysis: Mark Urban, BBC Newsnight
Critics believe Turkey is only striking the jihadists as cover for going after its real enemy: Kurdish militants. Turkey's allies are nervous that it could link its actions against IS and the PKK in ways that they would rather avoid.
Ankara's reluctance to hit IS earlier, the argument goes, was actually a reluctance to help Kurds fighting IS militants. Now both can be bombed, Turkey is willing to get involved. For the Americans, strikes against Kurdish armed groups in Iraq and Syria are highly unwelcome because these troops are among the few reliable partners they have on the ground in the struggle against IS.
Read more: Turkey - from reluctant observer to full player in IS fight To the Turks, the so-called Caliphate of IS and the PKK are two sides of the same coin - terrorist movements that endanger their security while exploiting the power vacuum in northern Syria and Iraq.
What can Turkey gain from Nato meeting? Mr Erdogan apparently calculates that hitting the PKK, against which Turkey fought a long and bitter insurgency, will not overly endanger his relations with the US or a two-year-old ceasefire with the Kurdish group; nor will they shatter the peace of south-east Turkey more generally.
Turkish press fears new civil war Turkey: The erratic ally
Read more:
Turkey - from reluctant observer to full player in IS fight
Turkey's dangerous gameTurkey's dangerous game
Who are the PKK?Who are the PKK?
'Safe haven'
Turkey is struggling with more than 1.8 million refugees from the Syrian conflict.Turkey is struggling with more than 1.8 million refugees from the Syrian conflict.
Mr Erdogan said plans being discussed with the US to establish a "secure zone" in northern Syria would pave the way for the refugees' return.Mr Erdogan said plans being discussed with the US to establish a "secure zone" in northern Syria would pave the way for the refugees' return.
All 28 Nato member countries met in Brussels to discuss what it called "the threats against Turkey", a key member of the alliance. Under the plan, militants would be removed from a 68-mile (109km) stretch west of the Euphrates River, officials say.
In a final communique, Nato expressed "strong solidarity" with Turkey, and sent condolences to Ankara and "the families of the victims in Suruc and other attacks against police and military officers".
Earlier, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the organisation would "address the instability on Turkey's doorstep and on Nato's border".
Under the buffer-zone plan, militants would be removed from a 68-mile (109km) stretch west of the Euphrates River, officials say.
The week that changed Turkey
Such a deal would significantly increase the scope of the US-led air war against IS in northern Syria, say analysts.Such a deal would significantly increase the scope of the US-led air war against IS in northern Syria, say analysts.
As Turkey and the PKK continue to strike at each other, the possibility grows of a return to armed conflict, our correspondent warns. Tuesday also saw Nato discuss the Turkish campaigns against IS and Kurdish militants. All 28 Nato member countries met in Brussels to discuss what it called "the threats against Turkey", a key member of the alliance.
If that happens, Turkey will be plunged into a serious crisis and the West's strategy against Islamic State could be severely hampered. In a final communique, Nato expressed "strong solidarity" with Turkey, and sent condolences to Ankara and "the families of the victims in Suruc and other attacks against police and military officers".
However, Nato officials quoted by news agencies said alliance members use the closed-door meeting to urge Turkey not to use excessive force, and to continue peace talks with representatives of its Kurdish minority.
Kurdish acronyms:Kurdish acronyms:
Are you in the Kurdish majority areas along the Turkish-Syria border? What do you hope to see emerge from the extraordinary meeting of Nato members? You can share your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the Kurdish majority areas along the Turkish-Syria border? What do you hope to see emerge from the extraordinary meeting of Nato members? You can share your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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