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Turkish gov't, opposition dialogue gives
new momentum to discuss Kurdish issue
12.6.2012
By Alakbar Raufoglu for SES Türkiye
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Ekurd.net |
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The last time Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu met for
formal discussions was in 2010. Photo: Reuters
There are some positive
signals political parties could get together to
discuss the Kurdish issue, but past experiences of
disunity leaves many cautiously optimistic.
June 12, 2012
ANKARA, — At the initiative of the main
opposition CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu came
together last week in search of a way forward to
discuss deadlock in resolving Turkey's decades-long
Kurdish issue.
Without presupposing what a final solution would
look like, the ten-point plan put forward by
Kilicdaroglu instead outlined steps to create an
environment of dialogue within the highly polarised
parliament by establishing a multi-party Social
Consensus Commission. Parallel to the commission a
"Wise Men" group would also be established outside
of parliament.
The meeting was significant in itself because the
constant mudslinging between the main opposition and
AKP has been to the detriment of resolving issues of
national importance such as the Kurdish issue. The
last time the two leading politicians met to discuss
political issues was in July 2010.
Since the meeting both the AKP and CHP have signaled
a willingness to work together, but the initiative
faces numerous hurdles before it can get off the
ground.
As expected, there is strong opposition from the
ultra-nationalist MHP, whose participation in the
parliamentary commission would be required by
parliamentary bylaws for the CHP's initiative to
move forward.
Speaking to SES Türkiye, CHP deputy Atilla Kart
said: "We hope all the parties will avoid ruining
the process, as the problem itself is very real and
is getting out of control every single day."
Condemning the initiative, MHP leader Devlet Bahceli
denied there is even a Kurdish problem in the
country, claiming the idea to form committee of Wise
Men was put forward by imprisoned PKK leader
Abdullah Ocalan.
"Our general view is that first we need to fix the
terror, and then dialogue can start," MHP deputy
Yusuf Ziya Irbec told SES Türkiye, adding that no
one should expect any change in the MHP's position.
Unable to get the MHP onboard, at the suggestion of
Erdogan the CHP and AKP may go forward outside
parliament through the establishment of a
"consultative mechanism." This would be huge step
for two parties that have shown that the only thing
they can agree on is arguing with each other.
The pro-Kurdish BDP has also expressed support for
the CHP's initiative and would likely take part in
any commission, whether inside or outside
parliament. In such an event,www.ekurd.net
an AKP-CHP-BDP commission accounting for nearly 90%
of the vote in last year's election would provide
substantial legitimacy.
Sirri Sakik, a BDP deputy, told SES Türkiye that
although the CHP took an important step, the
government needs to "stop pursuing Kurdish
politicians if it is really interested in dialogue."
The day after the CHP-AKP meeting police arrested
dozens of BDP supporters and six elected mayors, in
addition to several high-level city council members.
The sweep was part of the ongoing Kurdistan
Communities Union investigation which has put
hundreds of BDP members and dozens mayors on trial
for alleged links to the PKK.
"The government needs to prove its sincerity by
solving the problem, not by causing more harm,"
Sakik said.
For Mehmet Suleyman Hamzaogullari, an AKP MP from
Kurdish-dominant city of Diyarbakir, the main
outcome of last Wednesday's meeting is not the CHP's
plan, which he said is "nothing different than what
the AKP has been saying all these years," but about
the new step towards inter-party dialogue.
"There is a Kurdish problem in this country and if
anyone, including MHP leaders, doesn't want to see
that, I invite them to come to Diyarbakir," he told
SES Türkiye. "It's time for everyone to share the
responsibility and work together on stopping the
blood."
Published by Ekurd.net in cooperation with Southeast
European Times.
Copyright © respective author or news agency, setimes.com
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