DEPUTY PM ARINC SAYS TURKEY MUST RESOLVE KURDISH ISSUE

Today’s Zaman
Sept 4 2009
Turkey

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc has said Turkey must address its
Kurdish problem and put a stop to terrorism in order to unite all of
its citizens. Repeating the words of pro-Kurdish Democratic Society
Party (DTP) leader Ahmet Turk, who said on Tuesday in Diyarbakir
that he is ready to die when there is peace, Arinc said these words
were important in regards to a democratic initiative floated by the
government in July addressing Kurdish rights and freedoms.

"This statement was very important and very significant. The Turkish
people cannot remain indifferent to the cry of a person who says,
‘Let there be peace; then God can claim my life,’" Arinc said at an
iftar dinner in Istanbul, hosted by the Civil Society Development
Program (STGP) on Wednesday. "We all suffered and are tired. Let the
bloodshed stop in this country. We don’t want to hear the sound of
guns. We want to leave these bad days behind us. When the conflict is
over, there will be no obstacles before Turkey. We will use our full
potential. We will grow and be stronger. It is time to say ‘enough
for the losses we have suffered for the last 30 years’," Arinc said.

Relations with neighbors He also pointed out that Turkey has been
having better relations with its neighbors and that it plays an
influential role in the Middle East. "Turkey and Syria were enemies
for about 40 years. But now we are at a point where there is almost
no border. Turkey also has very good communication with Iran, Iraq,
Georgia, Russia and the Balkan countries. We deal not only with our
own problems but with the problems of others. We are mediating issues
between Syria and Israel and Lebanon and Israel," he said, adding that
Turkey has had problems with Armenia but that that is changing. "We
do not accept the ‘genocide.’ Armenia has an active foreign policy
which pushes third-party countries into accepting this genocide. This
environment creates an atmosphere for bitter relations. Having a
protocol signed [referring to the Aug. 31 protocol between Armenia
and Turkey] is for the benefit of Azerbaijan, and it is also suitable
for Turkey’s interests."

He also said when it comes to solving problems with Armenia, the first
consideration is Turkey’s interests and that the second consideration
is the interest of Turkey’s allies.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress