Erdoğan Addresses Arınç: That Person Didn’t Speak During My Term
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “Alleging that it was done by my permission is not an honest move” in response to former Vice Prime Minister Bülent Arınç’s words as to Dolmabahçe agreement that “I know the President was informed”.
According to report of Vahap Munyar from Hürriyet daily, Erdoğan talked as follows about Arınç:
“I haven’t seen that TV program but felt seriously sad when I heard about it. There is Yalçın Akdoğan, Efkan Âlâ, and Mahir [Ünal] related to the matter…I said to all three of them about Dolmabahçe matter that ‘It is not right to be in the same frame with them because dealing with them is harmful. You are the government, they cannot be addressee for the government’.
“In my Prime Ministerial term, both Mr. Beşir [Atalay] and Mr. Sadullah [Ergin] occasionally used to hold meetings. The meetings were being held at Parliament. Neither photos, nor statements were being released to public. However, doing such thing in Dolmabahçe, the opposite side trying to reflect it as an agreement was a serious fault. Therefore, alleging that I was informed and it was done by my permission is not an honest move. Moreover, that person didn’t speak about these during my term. It is not possible to approve such incorrect expressions”.
What had happened?
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) delegation and the government met at Dolmabahçe Prime Ministerial office on February 28, 2015. Following the meeting, a call was made on Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to lay down arms. Minister of Interior Efkan Ala, Vice PM Yalçın Akdoğan, Justice and Development Party (AKP) Group Deputy Chairperson Mahir Ünal, and Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Pervin Buldan and İdris Baluken from HDP had participated in the meeting.
President Erdoğan had said as to Dolmabahçe agreement that, “I strongly reject the expression ‘Dolmabahçe agreement’”.
Bülent Arınç said, “Sides agreed on who will speak of what. I know, guess that the President was informed of that”. (NV/TK)