Turkish President Abdullah Gul called on Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists still in the mountains to return home under an active repentance law and reunite with their families, Turkish Zaman daily reports.

Speaking on a program aired by a Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) TV station, Gul spoke about the government's recent efforts to settle Turkey's long-standing Kurdish issue. “I hope this issue will be settled without bloodshed. There is a law aimed at those returning from the mountains. They can reunite with their families immediately. More and more PKK members are beginning to avail themselves of the law. I hope all who spent their lives in the mountains will come down from the mountains and reunite with their families. No state can tolerate armed terrorists. All state organs have been working on this issue. These unspoken and invisible efforts are also significant,” Zaman reads.

Article 220 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), known as the “active repentance law,” stipulates the release of terrorist organization members who turn themselves in without punishment so long as they have not been involved in any armed clashes with security forces or any other terrorist attacks against Turkey, daily says.

Gul also brought up a new proposal regarding the National Security Council (MGK). “I think it would be very useful if an amendment is made to enable the main opposition party's participation in MGK meetings,” he said. He noted that it is important if the main opposition party can be directly informed about the content of the meetings in which Turkey's most important issues are discussed, Zaman concludes.