UK Foreign Secretary: Turkey 'Right to Defend Itself Against PKK'

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond upheld Turkey’s right to defend itself against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), expressing hope that Ankara would resume dialogue with the PKK in an interview with local media on Friday.

ANKARA (Sputnik) – Turkish authorities have declared a curfew across a series of predominantly Kurdish southeastern regions, where clashes between law enforcement officials and PKK fighters continue. Human rights groups have counted up to 162 civilian deaths in nearly six months of Turkey’s campaign against PKK.

"We are clear the PKK have to cease their destructive attacks on Turkey," Hammond told the Hurriyet Daily News during a visit to the country at the invitation of Turkey’s counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu. "And we believe Turkey has a legitimate right to defend itself against the PKK."

Hammond stressed that London hopes Ankara would "soon be able to return to dialogue in order to find a lasting peace."

"The loss of brave Turkish soldiers and police, and others caught up in the violence is tragic for this country," Hammond observed. "A stable southeast will be important not just for Turkey, but for the wider region."

Over 200 Turkish police officers and soldiers are estimated to have fallen victim to PKK attacks, 3,100 of whose fighters have been killed since Turkey had suspended a shaky truce and launched an air campaign against the group in July.