Here are the key elements of his message, entitled: "A call for peace and democratic society" which was read out by a member of the pro-Kurdish DEM party delegation that visited him on Imrali prison island early on Thursday:

- "The PKK was born in the 20th century, in the most violent epoch of the history of humanity... The outright denial of Kurdish reality, restrictions on basic rights and freedoms - especially freedom of expression - played a significant role in its emergence and development."

- "Throughout the history of more than 1,000 years, Turkish and Kurdish relations were defined in terms of mutual cooperation and alliance. Today, the main task is to restructure the historical relationship, which has become extremely fragile."

- "The need for a democratic society is inevitable. The PKK, the longest and most extensive insurgency and armed movement in the history of the Republic... was primarily inspired by the fact that the channels of democratic politics were closed."

- "The call made by (the leader of the hardline nationalist MHP) Mr Devlet Bahceli, along with the will expressed by Mr President (Recep Tayyip Erdogan), and the positive responses from the other political parties towards the known call, has created an environment in which I am making a call for the laying down of arms, and I take on the historical responsibility of this call."

- "As any modern community and party whose existence has not been abolished by force, would voluntarily do, convene your congress and make a decision; all groups must lay their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself."