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Turkey opposition leader asks for Kurdish parties' support in
presidential elections
13:54 ¢ 08.06.14
Turkey's main opposition leader has called on the Peace and Democracy
Party (BDP) and its sister party, The Peoples' Democracy Party (HDP),
to provide support in the presidential elections against the ruling
party candidate, marking a first concrete appeal to reach out to
Kurdish voters, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.
`The resolution process should rely on mutual trust. But there is
currently a picture in which both sides don't trust each other. The
only party who will refresh mutual trust and solve the issue with
determination is us. This is why we are seeking their votes,'
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal KılıçdaroÄ?lu told daily
Hürriyet on the sidelines of a visit to Germany on June 7.
KılıçdaroÄ?lu vowed that the CHP, which has long been criticized for
its lack of plans for a resolution regarding the Kurdish issue, would
endeavor to give new momentum to the stalled peace process.
`I would like to tell the HDP-BDP voters that democracy and freedom is
not a rule only valid for the west. It has also to be valid for the
east and the southeast. We have to defend democracy and freedom in
equal terms for all the regions in Turkey,' said KılıçdaroÄ?lu,
responding to questions before his first ever rally abroad in the
heart of the industrial belt in Essen.
`There is pressure in the whole country. Don't we want a country where
thoughts are expressed much more freely, devoid of all pressure? If
that's the case, they should lend their ear to the voice of a social
democrat party, therefore the CHP,' he said.
KılıçdaroÄ?lu expressed concerns that the number of people trying to
join the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was increasing, while
assuring that the CHP was ready to make efforts to provide a political
resolution to the issue within Parliament.
`We don't want anyone to be hurt in Turkey. We are a party who
believes that the problem can be solved within the Parliament, in
accordance with democracy and freedom. We don't know anything about
the negotiations behind closed doors but the number of those going to
the mountains is increasing. However, if the process were healthy, it
would be the numbers coming down from the mountains that would be
increasing,' KılıçdaroÄ?lu noted.
Prime Minister Recep ErdoÄ?an is said to be poised to become the ruling
Justice and Development Party's (AKP) presidential candidate for the
upcoming elections in August. The opposition, meanwhile, is in intense
talks to pick their own candidate. KılıçdaroÄ?lu, who conducted talks
on the possibility of a common candidate with the Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, a staunch opponent of the peace
process, has nevertheless tried to comfort the Kurdish parties
regarding the future CHP nominee.
`Our candidate will be someone who defends democracy, the rule of law,
freedom and a society with [the right to] free assembly. He should be
and will be someone who supports peace in Turkey and integrating
people without creating more tension. Someone who sees diversity as a
richness. Within this context, we expect that our Kurdish citizens who
form the base of the BDP and the HDP will support the candidate that
will be shown by the CHP,' KılıçdaroÄ?lu said.
Kurdish voters may become the kingmaker in choosing the first
popularly elected president in Turkey's history. The election will be
held in two rounds on Aug. 10 and 24
Armenian News - Tert.am
presidential elections
13:54 ¢ 08.06.14
Turkey's main opposition leader has called on the Peace and Democracy
Party (BDP) and its sister party, The Peoples' Democracy Party (HDP),
to provide support in the presidential elections against the ruling
party candidate, marking a first concrete appeal to reach out to
Kurdish voters, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.
`The resolution process should rely on mutual trust. But there is
currently a picture in which both sides don't trust each other. The
only party who will refresh mutual trust and solve the issue with
determination is us. This is why we are seeking their votes,'
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal KılıçdaroÄ?lu told daily
Hürriyet on the sidelines of a visit to Germany on June 7.
KılıçdaroÄ?lu vowed that the CHP, which has long been criticized for
its lack of plans for a resolution regarding the Kurdish issue, would
endeavor to give new momentum to the stalled peace process.
`I would like to tell the HDP-BDP voters that democracy and freedom is
not a rule only valid for the west. It has also to be valid for the
east and the southeast. We have to defend democracy and freedom in
equal terms for all the regions in Turkey,' said KılıçdaroÄ?lu,
responding to questions before his first ever rally abroad in the
heart of the industrial belt in Essen.
`There is pressure in the whole country. Don't we want a country where
thoughts are expressed much more freely, devoid of all pressure? If
that's the case, they should lend their ear to the voice of a social
democrat party, therefore the CHP,' he said.
KılıçdaroÄ?lu expressed concerns that the number of people trying to
join the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was increasing, while
assuring that the CHP was ready to make efforts to provide a political
resolution to the issue within Parliament.
`We don't want anyone to be hurt in Turkey. We are a party who
believes that the problem can be solved within the Parliament, in
accordance with democracy and freedom. We don't know anything about
the negotiations behind closed doors but the number of those going to
the mountains is increasing. However, if the process were healthy, it
would be the numbers coming down from the mountains that would be
increasing,' KılıçdaroÄ?lu noted.
Prime Minister Recep ErdoÄ?an is said to be poised to become the ruling
Justice and Development Party's (AKP) presidential candidate for the
upcoming elections in August. The opposition, meanwhile, is in intense
talks to pick their own candidate. KılıçdaroÄ?lu, who conducted talks
on the possibility of a common candidate with the Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, a staunch opponent of the peace
process, has nevertheless tried to comfort the Kurdish parties
regarding the future CHP nominee.
`Our candidate will be someone who defends democracy, the rule of law,
freedom and a society with [the right to] free assembly. He should be
and will be someone who supports peace in Turkey and integrating
people without creating more tension. Someone who sees diversity as a
richness. Within this context, we expect that our Kurdish citizens who
form the base of the BDP and the HDP will support the candidate that
will be shown by the CHP,' KılıçdaroÄ?lu said.
Kurdish voters may become the kingmaker in choosing the first
popularly elected president in Turkey's history. The election will be
held in two rounds on Aug. 10 and 24
Armenian News - Tert.am