PEN Turkey: No to Conflict, Uproar, War

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In the statement released by the PEN Turkey Center on the occasion of the September 21 International Day of Peace, it has been stated, "We are the people and we have no interest or way out other than peace."

The center has released the following statement:

"Peace has no day. Does living have a day? We live everyday. But, how do we live? Do we live by loving and being loved or by getting angry and being offended; do we live by solving the problems tolerantly and leniently or by clamoring, brawling, shooting and killing?

"Let us not forget: It is we, who establish both the societies and countries. 'It is we, who create life.' But we do not make war! Because we do not have enough interests to make war!

"Will we set our eyes on the land of other countries and seize a place there for mass housing, no! Will we sell cerecloth and hit the goldmine, no! Or, will we exploit the ones who lost their lives or got wounded in war and turn them into votes, no! No, no and, one more time in capital letters, NO!

"We are the people and we have no interest or way out other than peace. In accordance with the expression of 'We have to be good' of Aziz Nesin, our master, the unyielding defender of peace, whom we always miss, we say, 'We have to live together in peace!'

"NO to conflict, uproar, war! YES to internal peace, social peace, world peace and peace!

"Peace will take care of itself!"

(AS/SD)