Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan has for the first time openly expressed his support for the proposal made by his main political ally, Turkish nationalist leader Devlet Bahçeli, on the idea of opening negotiations with the imprisoned leader of the PKK terrorist group, Abdullah Öcalan, with the mediation of the Kurdish nationalist DEM party.
Bahçeli, who just before the recent attack in Ankara last October had proposed that Öcalan deliver a speech to parliament to announce the disarmament of the PKK, sparking criticism from the opposition and anger from victims of terrorism, yesterday reiterated his proposal for a dialogue with Öcalan but this time through the mediation of the DEM party, Turkish media reported.
‘We are in full agreement with Mr Bahçeli on any issue that serves the interest of our country and our nation. We join his call,’ Erdoğan said today in a speech in Ankara to deputies of his party, a day after Bahçeli called for the earliest possible start of dialogue to “make progress in disarming the terrorist organisation and resolving the Kurdish issue”.
‘Mr Bahçeli has made a bold and innovative proposal. From the Presidency, we are also addressing this issue from all angles, including its political and regional consequences. We are carrying it out with the seriousness of statehood and with great sensitivity, without neglecting any detail… We will tear down the wall of terror built between Turks and Kurds. We will hand over to our children a Turkey without policies supported by terrorism. We have sincerity and determination in this goal,’ the Turkish president assured.
While endorsing Bahçeli’s peace proposal, Erdoğan wanted to make clear that Turkey will not let up in the meantime in its fight against terrorism: ‘Our fight against terrorism will persist until the last terrorist is eliminated. We will not tolerate any kind of terrorist structure or organisation along our border, whoever supports them,’ Erdoğan said in what appeared to be a clear reference to groups like the YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK, which is supported by the US. ’Meanwhile, we will keep active the alternatives that can permanently rid our country of terrorism. God willing, we will achieve a Turkey free of terrorism,’ he concluded.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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