First Picnic in Hakkari’s Balkaya Mountains After 20 Years
Following the end of armed conflicts between Kurdish PKK and Turkish Army, Balkaya Mountains located in the southeastern border of Turkey became a local attraction for picnics.
Local residents of the southeastern province of Hakkari enjoyed their first picnic in Balkaya Mountains after the end of end of armed conflicts between Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) that lasted about 20 years.
According to Yüksekovahaber news website, the mountains are located 65 kilometers southeast from Şemdinli district whose residents are now driving out to have picnics and herb-collecting.
“Along with the resolution process, peace is restored in these mountains again. We are profiting from this environment, we couldn’t be in the mountains after years. I hope we will hear people’s happy voices instead of gunfire,” a local resident said. (EA/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.