He also played down the prolonged impasse brought about by the inconclusive Dec. 24 election, and asked the nation to be patient and allow the democratic processes to take their natural course. He said over 21,000 people, including 12,700 separatists had been killed in the fighting so far.
Turkey is a unitary state.
Everyone is a first class citizen, with equal rights and opportunities. PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is believed residing in Damascus despite Ankara's frequent complaints while Turkish officials have blamed NATO-ally Greece of training terrorists. Last year Turkey mounted crossborder attacks against the PKK camps there, defying international reaction. But he also warned against dividing 99-percent Muslim Turkey into Islamist and secularist camps. He countered the views that the government impasse had gone on too long, asking the nation to show patience and trust in democracy.