IRBIL
PKK terrorist organization freed a group of Turkish civil servants it has been holding captive in the north of Iraq.
The group met their relatives in Zaho, and then left en route to Turkey.
They are expected to enter Turkey via Habur border gate.
Eight Turkish civil servants had been kidnapped by PKK terrorists in eastern Van, Mus, Bingol, Sirnak and Diyarbakir provinces on different dates.
Turkish president's statement
STOCKHOLM
Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday said that it was very pleasing to have our citizens back in Turkey after a long period in regards to the handing in of Turkish civil servants kidnapped by the terrorist PKK.
Gul answered the questions of journalists following him during his Sweden visit.
Upon being reminded of the criticism that "the release of civil servants kept captive with the will of the terrorist organization might damage the reputation of the government", Gul reminded of his warnings against avoiding propaganda and psychological activities in the process.
Stating that he was very pleased to hear the civil servants have returned to the homeland safe and sound, Gul said, "I've always been a person believing in the resolution of the problems within our own body and with our own will and by increasing democratic and legal standards. Everyone should take lessons from the past. We all would like the laying down of weapons and the terrorist activities to come to an end. If there was no terror and violence, Turkey would have got rid of its problems much easier. It was forbidden to speak Kurdish or broadcast in Kurdish in the past and the legal standards didn't allow it. When the most developed legal standards are considered 24 hour broadcasting in different languages or taking another language as an elective is permissable. If violence and terror comes to and, it is then we can move onto reform policies from security policies. Everyone should value this process and hope that it will have positive results for all."
