Government hopeful on Kurdish move

The government’s Kurdish move has proved to be a success with clear public support and a will for a resolution to the country’s terror problem, Interior Minister Beşir Atalay said Monday. Atalay also called on the opposition to get passed their fear that the move might divide the country.

Atalay, coordinator of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP’s, recently announced Kurdish move, was speaking at a live broadcast revealing the outcomes of his conversations with different segments of society in order to build and foster public reconciliation to solve the long-standing Kurdish issue.

The party has so far met with 22 nongovernmental organizations and 11 occupational organizations, Atalay said. He had the opportunity to listen to the concerns and priorities voiced by different segments of the society during his tour. “The common points we heard were abundant, which shows that we have reached our goal. Everybody wants to put a stop to the terror. Everybody wants better democratic standards. No one is against these points," Atalay said.

Atalay said they delved into scientific aspects of the issue and conducted research on the issue in different regions, and it would be a basis for their work. They also asked for the opinion of the Turkey's Higher Education Board, or YÖK, on the issue.

Atalay denied claims that the move was part of reports drafted by a foreign think-tank.

‘No hidden agenda, no amnesty’

Referring to their request for a meeting with the opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, and the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, Atalay said they didn’t accept a meeting with them. The opposition also accused them of dividing the country and not disclosing the details of the Kurdish plan, according to Atalay.

“The opposition should get rid of their fear that the move will divide the country. This rhetoric indicates a lack of self-confidence,” Atalay said. “This is a peace and brotherhood project. We will solve the issue by enriching freedoms. We have no hidden agenda. We are the guarantee of the unity,” he said, adding that they knew what they were doing and showed sensitivity to the public consensus.

Asked if the government would grant an amnesty to members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, Atalay said: "We have never said such a thing. The starting point for this process is laying down arms."

Atalay also said it is in the Parliament where they would share the details, their proposals and policies regarding the move.

Opposition finds remarks unsatisfactory

Commenting on Atalay’s remarks, the opposition parties, meanwhile, said Atalay’s remarks lacked any concrete details and instead consisted solely of wishes.

MHP’s Mehmet Şandır said: “Our four soldiers died Sunday. Prime minister called on [the PKK] to lay down their arms. They come up with an answer with bullets. Doesn’t Atalay need to question the situation?”

Şandır said the AKP tried to solve the problem with wishes and that external forces were motivating the AKP’s move. “With a solution based on ethnic identity, you would create a second nation, which divides the country.”

Mustafa Özyürek of the CHP said Atalay simply expressed his abstract wishes on the issue. “They say there will be more democracy. We don’t object to this. What steps are you going to take for this? How will they make the PKK lay down their arms and stop the blood?” he asked. “We have to see to which law they will make an amendment. We will support those that we find positive. But we will object to those that require objection.”