WASHINGTON DC – Resolving the Kurdish issue is one of the priorities of the new Turkish government, Prime Minister Ahmed Davotuglu said, urging public support for the bid to end the three-decade conflict.
"As Turkey's 62nd cabinet, the targets of the new roadmap are ending terrorism, disarmament, bringing (militants) into society and participation in democratic policy," Turkey’s Anadolu Agency quoted Davutoglu as saying in the Turkish parliament.
He vowed to work with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a "synergy that will provide and strengthen the national will and power."
Turkey held its presidential election on August 10, in which the Justice and Development Party (AKP) won just over half the votes. An alliance between the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) failed to forestall Erdogan’s victory.
Meanwhile, Turkish armed forces chief of staff Necdet Ozel warned the government about crossing “red lines” in efforts to end the Kurdish insurgency.
“We have made clear that we will do and say whatever necessary if our red lines have been crossed,” he said. These include “territorial integrity,” he added.
As prime minister, before ascending to the presidency, Erdogan began secret peace talks with the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in 2012, to end a conflict that has cost 40,000 lives. The negotiations were carried out through the National Intelligence Organization (MIT).
The PKK, which has been fighting for greater Kurdish rights for the country’s esimated 15 million Kurds, declared a ceasefire in March 2013 and started pulling out fighters from Turkey. But since then, the Kurds have accused the government of dragging its feet.
Ocalan expressed his confidence last month that the conflict would come to an end, saying that Turkey is going through "historic developments."
“This problem has held our society captive for decades. Seeking temporary solutions to the problem exacerbated it, threatening our unity,” Davotuglu said in his speech in parliament.
“We are ready to put the new methods required in place and to encourage broad segments of society to take part in the process to find an urgent solution to the problem.” the prime minister added.
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