Statement by HDP on Russia Trip

Click here to read the article in Turkish / Haberin Türkçesi için buraya tıklayın

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Vice Co-Chair, Nazmi Gür, regarding Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu saying “HDP Co-Chair’s saying ‘Turkey’s shooting down Russian warplane was a mistake’ is a complete disgrace and betrayal” has said it is unacceptable.

Demirtaş had gone to Russia’s capital city of Moscow with Nazmir Gür, the committee consists of Democratic Regions’ Party (DBP) Co-Chair Kamuran Yüksek and representatives participating in representation office opening procedures in Moscow, and met with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov.

What did Davutoğlu say?

Davutoğlu said the following in his statement yesterday (December 23)

“HDP Co-Chair’s saying ‘Turkey’s shooting down Russian warplane was a mistake’ is a complete disgrace and betrayal. In such a period when Russian warplanes bomb innocent Turkmens, innocent Arabs, innocent Kurds in Azez, Aleppo, Idlib, Bayirbucak, going to Russia and express support with great eagerness is an explicit betrayal against the nation. This is sheer carelessness”.

“We’ve always said it is a mistake”

Nazmi Gür in his written statement said that they haven’t maintained an attitude that would bring Turkey under suspicion in the talks.

“AKP Government’s deeming HDP’s meeting with Russian Government ‘betrayal’ while they themselves sustain their intercourse with the Russian government is inconsistency to say the least. Even though we have been clearly expressing that downing the Russian warplane was a mistake from day one, Prime Minister Davutoğlu’s reflecting us reiterating it in Moscow as a new situation is a clear sign of intolerance towards HDP’s stability and peace oriented diplomatic activities”.

“HDP should maintain peace oriented attitude”

“Because of the crisis AKP Government has caused, a need has arisen for HDP to maintain a stability and peace oriented attitude against possible conflicts to occur between neighboring peoples. We sadly follow the attempts to frustrate HDP’s efforts to create possibilities in order to decrease tension.

“We respectfully announce to public that we will work inside and outside the country to build a future in which peoples in Turkey can live freely and in peace with their neighbors”. (NV/TK)