Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said no decision has been taken by the Justice Ministry about a second visit by Kurdish politicians to İmralı Island, where Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan is imprisoned. Speaking to the press at İstanbul Atatürk Airport before his departure for Prague, Erdoğan said the Justice Ministry has taken no decision as to a second meeting with Öcalan so far. He added that military operations against the PKK would continue until they lay down their arms.
Turkish media have been speculating about a second delegation including pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş and Mardin independent deputy Ahmet Türk.
The BDP though denied that such a meeting had been agreed. Demirtaş reiterated on Saturday that his party was ready to go to İmralı but that it was the government's turn to move. The answer came from the PM who stated no promise had been made as to a date for the second meeting.
The first meeting between Öcalan and deputies Ahmet Türk and Ayla Akat Ata took place on Jan. 4.