PRIME MINISTER URGES OPPOSITION TO TAKE PLACE IN NATIONAL UNITY PROJECT

Today’s Zaman
Sept 22 2009
Turkey

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on opposition
leaders to support a national unity project, also known as the
democratization initiative, with the ultimate aim of reaching a
comprehensive resolution to the decades-old Kurdish question by
granting more rights to the country’s Kurdish citizens.

"We want a consensus to be established; those who back the democratic
initiative will definitely be welcomed," Erdogan said in a press
conference on Monday when he departed for the US to attend the UN
General Assembly. He added that the Justice and Development Party
(AK Party) must continue to work toward a final settlement of the
Kurdish question because the opposition will maintain its strong stance
against the initiative. When a reporter said the government will send
an invitation to Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal
to inform him of the process and to discuss the government’s recent
steps regarding the initiative, Erdogan said the invitation will not
have detailed information on the process but will briefly explain
the method the government plans to pursue. He said the most critical
point centers on support for the initiative from the opposition
because the government wants to exchange views with all sides backing
the initiative to give it its final shape before bringing it to the
agenda of Parliament.

"Our wish is for all segments of society to take a risk for a
resolution; thus, we want broad participation in the process to find
a solution. We don’t want the initiative to be seen as a project of
the AK Party government. Our hope is that it will be realized through
consensus," he added.

Erdogan stated that he will discuss the developments regarding the
democratic initiative in his talks with several leaders. "I think it
will be helpful to explain the democratic initiative to our friends
in the international arena," Erdogan stated. He also addressed rumors
circulated by circles that have been running campaigns to denounce
the democratic initiative, saying that "it is beneficial to share the
positive consequences of the initiative with our friends." Answering
a reporter’s question on attempts aiming to normalize relations with
Armenia, Erdogan said relations between Armenia and Turkey are a
problematic area for the country, adding that the government has been
continuing work on the Armenian issue and hopes to be successful. He
also touched upon problems faced by minorities and said that the
government is working to remove these difficulties.