Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says it would not be appropriate to have discussions with the leading pro-Kurdish party in Turkey because it has made "disrespectful" comments, including condemning Ankara's shooting down of a Russian warplane over Syria.
Davutoglu told a news conference in Istanbul on December 28 that he ruled out talks with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) over a new constitution because of its public remarks.
Davutoglu and the leadership of the HDP have long been at odds over policy in the mainly Kurdish southeast and elsewhere.
However, he has previously called on leaders of opposition parties to discuss the preparation of a new constitution which the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) hopes will give Turkey an executive presidential system.
HDP co-head Selahattin Demirtas condemned Ankara's shooting down of a Russian warplane over Syria while he was visiting Moscow last week.
At the time, Davutoglu described his remark as treasonous.
Russia imposed economic sanctions on Turkey after the November 24 shooting down of its warplane and has sharply criticized Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
