Turkey Discusses Democratic Drive: “More Freedom for All”

Turkey is discussing the democratic drive which aims at finding a comprehensive solution to Turkey’s long-standing terror problem and extending democratic rights for all segments of the society.

The Parliament convened On Friday at 1:00 p.m. to voice all concerns regarding the initiative in the General Debate session.

Owing to the vital significance of the issue, all speakers are given one hour time to present their perspectives extendedly.

The preliminary session which paved the way for the general debate had been held under great pressure and witnessed utmost tensions in the Parliament.

The government reiterates that it has taken all risks to extend support for the initiative in order to resolve decades-old problem in Turkey.

In the opening speech, Interior Minister Beşir Atalay addressed to the Turkish Grand National Assembly and explained the details of the government’s initiative. Minister Atalay said the policy making process will not handle a decades-old problem overnight but it is a broad understanding of the needs of the Turkish people to be met through this process. Emphasizing that the unitary state model and basic principles of democracy is secured, Atalay said extending and consolidation of democratic rights will save Turkey from losing its human and financial sources in a deadlock. Interior Minister said the motto of the initiative is “more freedom for all”.

Precisely, Interior Atalay mentioned that the primary objective of the democratic is to finish terror and consolidation of democracy in Turkey, saying that abolishing the ‘state of emergency’ in the southeastern region was to serve this priority. State security courts, which were a locus of international criticism, were abrogated accordingly, Atalay said. In line with normalization process, right to learn other languages rather than Turkish has also been adopted and TRT-6 started broadcast to respond this basic need, Interior Minister added. Beşir Atalay highlighted the fact that equal allocation of all rights and resources eradicate social frictions. Atalay heralded that the government aims at finalizing the Southeastern Anatolia Project by 2013.

Second speech was delivered by the Chairman of Democratic Society Party (DTP) Ahmet Türk in the general debate. DTP Chairman Türk said the a lasting solution cannot be reached through solely using force without analyzing the underlying reasons of problems, and those who proffer antidemocratic means to the government will be responsible before the nation. Türk said there had been abuse of authority in the past which paved the way for unidentified murders. Ahmet Türk also touched upon the psychological war which has been conducted in the region, saying that it entailed different perceptions of the same problems in eastern and western regions of the country.

Third speech was delivered by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli. MHP Chairman criticized the government's initiative for not being clear enough. Bahçeli claimed that the initiative is a project to divide Turkey and "patriots" in the country together with MHP will not allow such a thing. Leader of the nationalistic front said further that the government has not fough against terror but negotiated with terror. Devlet Bahçeli said the democratic drive has been oversimplified to individual rights, neglecting the difference between terrorists and Turkish citizens living in the eastern regions. He also said everyone is equal before the law irrespective of their ethnic, religious or lingual origin; and the state is responsible to protect this equality.

In behalf of the main opposition party, CHP leader Deniz Baykal addressed to the deputies. Baykal started his speech saying that disarmament and surrender of terrorists is of vital importance and praiseworthy; however they did not crossed the border with broken ties with their past but like messangers of the terrorists' leader.

The general debate is continuing in the Parliament.