(DIP) TURKISH PREMIER SAYS DEMOCRATIC MOVE IS PART OF PROJECT FOR NATIONAL UNITY.

ANKARA, Oct 26, 2009 (TUR) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his government's democratic move was a part of their project for national unity.

In an interview with the Al-Jazeera TV, Prime Minister Erdogan replied a question whether recent process would lead Turkey to a referendum or early elections, "we do not envisage early elections. First of all, the democratic move is a part of our project for national unity. There are some problems both in Turkey and abroad. Some of those problems are legal while the rest is illegal. We are against the illegality. I mean that we are against the separatist terrorist organization and its armed acts. We are determined in our fight against it."

"There are some legal and illegal organizations in some countries which support terrorism in Turkey. Any sovereign state cannot remain indifferent to illegal organizations within its territories. If there is a threat in the neighboring countries, we will continue taking all necessary measures. We cannot make concessions from it," he said.

Asked about impacts of return of a group of PKK members from Iraq to Turkey on the democratic move, Prime Minister Erdogan said, "this is a project of national unity and solidarity. And it is one of our expectations from the process of democratic move. There are some speculations. We do not consider them right. Our target is to consolidate national unity and solidarity. We call on those who are separated from their families and relatives, to lay down their arms and return if they were not involved in any crime. Politicians, media organs and academicians should assume a much more positive attitude and act objectively."

Referring to the Turkey-Armenia protocols, Prime Minister Erdogan said, "we asked the Minsk Group to support us while taking this step. I also held talks with U.S. President Barack Obama and President Dimitriy Medvedev of Russia. Our foreign minister held talks with his French counterpart. We asked them to add momentum to this process. If the Minsk Group cannot make any progress in its efforts to resolve the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, we will face some difficulties."

Asked whether President Obama disappointed Turkey, Prime Minister Erdogan said, "Mr. Obama was elected some ten months ago. It is not easy to resolve decades-long problems immediately."

"I am planning to pay a visit to United States soon. Mr. Obama was also awarded with Nobel Peace Prize. It is quite meaningful to award a leader with the Nobel Peace Prize. We did not lose our hopes. I believe that the United States will play an active role in the region," Erdogan added.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)