GOVERNMENT'S DEMOCRATIC INITIATIVE

On 8 September a conflict had occurred between soldiers and members of the militant Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) in rural areas of the districts of Eruh (Siirt province) and Çukurca (Hakkari province) in the southeast of Turkey. According to a statement of the General Staff, 7 soldiers died and 3 were injured in Eruh and one soldier died in Çukurca.

After the conflicts Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized in a statement that the government's "democratic initiative" process will not be obstructed by the conflicts.

Erdoğan answered the journalists' questions in a meeting after he had "iftar" (the breaking of the Ramadan fast at sunset) together with residents from Sarkarya and Gündoğu in the evening of 8 September as follows:

"I want to say this very openly and clearly: These bullets shot at our security forces and at our soldiers will never block the process we have started and which we are going to continue for the brotherhood and unity of our 72 million daughters and sons of our home land. We are going to continue this peace process, our project to unite the nation and our democratization process with the same determination. We are going to continue working on the problematic areas and first of all on the terror problem with the same determination".

Closed session in the parliament in October

Erdoğan explained that the projects mean one project of "solidarity and brotherhood" and that he has a couple of points to make in this context. He said he is putting effort into creating a consensus and that the parliament will discuss the results in a closed session in the beginning of October after the opening of the National Assembly.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) had previously made a statement that they will not participate in the closed session and that they will not join the process at any stage. Erdoğan commented this decision as follows:

"I heard the statement. Of course it is their choice to join or not to join, but the nation commissioned the members of parliament to attend the sessions of the parliament. Whatever they have to say on behalf of the nation, let it be positive or negative, they have been commissioned to say it there. It is their choice. We will present our thoughts in the parliament very openly to the ones who attend the session".

"I will ask for an official appointment with CHP"

The Prime Minister explained why he asked the Republican People's Party (CHP) for an official appointment :

"There is not much for me to do considering their attitude. Nevertheless, at least I will have officially requested an appointment with the main opposition party".

Erdoğan has scheduled this request for the time between the end of the Ramadan month and the opening of the parliament (end of September).

The Prime Minister will only ask CHP for an official appointment since MHP has already made a written statement on the issue. Whether Erdoğan's request will be accepted by CHP or not, the Prime Minister emphasized that he will continue in the same direction in any case. (TK/VK)