ERDOGAN SAYS HE WON’T MEET WITH BAYKAL AFTER CAMERA CONTROVERSY

Today’s Zaman
Oct 21 2009
Turkey

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced his decision not to
meet with main opposition leader Deniz Baykal to discuss recent efforts
to settle the country’s Kurdish issue in the wake of a controversy
which began after the latter insisted on having the meeting recorded
by a television crew.

"A tete-a-tete between politicians is not something new; however,
a condition to record such a meeting is unprecedented. This is
an indecent proposal. This is a proposal that ignores all ethnic
principles of politics. There is no meaning in meeting with cameras
to be set up with a Big Brother mindset. I was not supposed to meet
with Baykal to brainwash him. Nor would I bewitch him. I do not have
such talents," Erdogan stated. His remarks came during his Justice
and Development Party’s (AK Party) parliamentary group gathering on
Tuesday. Erdogan sent a one-page letter to the Republican People’s
Party (CHP) leader last week, asking for an appointment to discuss
the government’s efforts with him.

In a six-page letter Baykal sent Erdogan on Monday, he said he
would like to meet with the prime minister this week at the CHP
headquarters at any time of day so long as he was informed a day in
advance. Baykal also added that he would like to have their meeting
recorded by a television crew but that the time and place of their
meeting’s broadcast should be decided upon together.

"Compromise is not a sine qua non for democracy. Baykal has been
a political actor for years. Has he held his meetings up to this
point under cameras? … We have not kept anything secret from our
nation. We may have note takers or advisors during our meeting. I
am giving my response to Baykal. I will not go meet with him," noted
the prime minister.

He also recalled that Parliament would have an open session on the
Kurdish initiative where all parties will have the opportunity to
disclose their stance on planned moves to settle the long-standing
problem.

Touching on the surrender of 34 members of the terrorist Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK) on Monday to Turkish security forces, Erdogan
said: "Is it possible not to be hopeful upon seeing that picture? …

Good things are happening in Turkey. We will continue our fight to
complete the initiative even if we are alone. The tears of mothers
and the blood of martyrs are above all political interests. There are
circles who attempt to prevent us from proceeding on our path. Why
do you not contribute to the peace process?" asked the prime minister.

Erdogan said the mass surrender of PKK terrorists was part of a
"brotherhood project." "We are together in this country and accept
no division under any circumstance. I call on terrorists who are
currently in the mountains and in Europe to return to their country.

Parties who seek to turn such a return into a political show should act
responsibly. Irresponsible statements will not produce any benefits
for the process. Representatives of legal bodies should not speak
in the name of illegal bodies," he remarked, referring to recent
statements by pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) officials
upon the return of PKK members.

The surrender of PKK terrorists is expected to strengthen the hand
of the AK Party government on the planned initiative toward Kurds to
settle their years-long problems. The Turkish government launched an
initiative in late July to solve the Kurdish question. The government
has yet to provide details, but officials have frequently underlined
that the process aims to make every Turkish citizen an equal and free
member of a highly developed democracy.

PM reproaches Azerbaijan over removal of Turkish flags Erdogan
expressed his regret to see the removal of Turkish flags around
monuments in Azerbaijan commemorating Turkish soldiers who died
in battle on Azerbaijani soil. The flags were removed after a
rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia and the signing of two
protocols between the two countries.

"We never take a step that could disturb our Azerbaijani brothers. Let
them be sure about this. For us, the Azerbaijani flag is as sacred
as Azerbaijani soil. Our martyrs resting in Baku are witnesses of
this understanding. Let no one test Turkey’s sincerity. We should
be on alert against provocations. Our Azerbaijani brothers will soon
understand what the removal of Turkish flag in Baku means," he said.