Turkish soldier killed in Kurdistan Region
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Turkish soldier was killed in the Kurdistan Region on Saturday after stepping on a mine during an operation in northern Duhok province, the defense ministry announced.
In a statement, the ministry said that Onder Ozen 'was injured as a result of stepping on a mine/IED during the search and sweep operations' and 'was immediately taken to the hospital, where despite all interventions, he could not be saved.'
Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been engaged in a decades-long armed conflict. Founded in 1978, the PKK initially struggled for an independent Kurdistan but now calls for increased political and cultural rights within Turkey.
Ankara and its Western allies consider the group a terrorist organization.
The incident occurred amid revived peace negotiations between both sides and the PKK's unilateral ceasefire, aimed at resolving more than four decades of conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives.
In late February, Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) relayed a landmark message by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, in which he called on the PKK to disarm and disband.
The PKK responded to Ocalan's message, expressing willingness to uphold his call and declaring a unilateral ceasefire with Turkey, while accusing Ankara of continuing attacks against its members. The group also requested a physical meeting with Ocalan as a precondition for the success of the peace process.
As part of its outreach, the DEM Party has been meeting with leaders across the Kurdistan Region to build support for the peace initiative.
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