Erdoğan addresses public in Diyarbakır
Prime Minister Erdogan delivered a speech to citizens in Diyarbakir, today.
Intensive security measures were taken prior to the arrival of Prime Minister Erdogan in Diyarbakir. Some small businesses and shops preferred to be closed.
WE STAND WHERE WE STARTED AT THE VERY BEGINNING
The Prime Minister started his speech by referring to how they started out at the very beginning and said following:
“When we hit the road to establish our party (AK party) at the very start we received the most meaningful messages from Diyarbakır. Those contributed to the formation of our philosophy and program.
Diyarbakir put our red lines in front of us and we knew we should stay away from ethnic nationalism, religious and regional nationalism. This city also presented us the ideal of being one and united.
These people asked us not to persecute anyone and to stand up for brothers and unity at all times. Citizens here set forth the principle to protect advanced democracy, rule of law, justice, development, stability and trust.
You asked us to develop the nation and the region as well. We set out on the road with the confidence we got from brave and devoted people of Diyarbakır.
We started out knowing all the challenges and risks of politics and put forth a great struggle with consciousness of our cause.
Several sources like terrorist organizations, the mafia, coup supporters not only targeted AKP but they also did all to harm the brotherhood and the unity of Turkey. I congratulate our brave organization in this hall on this occasion which has not surrendered to any of of these attacks, so far. This organization will not give in to any threats and continue to speak the language of love.
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION will not be able to stand in our way!
Diyarbakır has welcomed us even before establishment of our party. Nobody will be able to spoil this brotherhood… Neither the terrorist organization and bloody actions nor the threats and insults from its political extensions.
OUR RIVALS DO NOT HAVE A WORD TO SAY
That is why they encourage violence. They do not produce anything. They only try to prevent production by threatening. They now see AK Party as the only target because AK Party can solve and provide solutions. They target AK party with all their power because our party can develop solutions.
WE FACED OBSTACLES ON THE WAY TO SOLUTION OF KURDISH ISSUE
We are still behind what we said in our party program and in Diyarbakır in 2005. We have faced big obstacles in all our steps to solve the Kurdish issue, for the last 9,5 years. You people have personally witnessed majority of these obstacles.”
ABOUT BDP IN THE REGION
Erdoğan said the BDP was exploiting religion, and accused them of not being religious. “They refuse to pray behind an imam appointed by the state. But they have nothing to do with religion. They say the religion of the Kurds was Zoroastrianism, although Kurds do not accept that. They see Apo (jailed leader of the PKK) as a prophet. They are deceiving; let’s teach them their lesson.”
ABOUT CHP (MAIN OPPOSITION)
Erdoğan also picked on the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and accused it of trying to suppress the people’s religion having caused the Kurdish problem in the country. He said recent liberal statements from CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on the Kurdish issue were not genuine and only part of a campaign.
Erdoğan added “I know the policies of assimilation, well. I have personally gone through the same difficulties But they are now over. There will be no more assimilation. CHP has been responsible for my Kurdish brothers to suffer” Erdoğan said.
WHAT AKP DID TO ADDRESS THE KURDISH ISSUE
Erdoğan provided examples of actions AKP took over the past years to address the Kurdish issue. He said “The Kurdish issue exists in this country. But are we going to live with this problem until death? We launched our Kurdish initiative in 2009. You told us to abolish martial law in the Southeast and we did. Isn’t TRT 6 a Kurdish channel on air 24 hours a day? We paved the way for a permanent solution to this issue for the first time”.
The prime minister promised to solve the Kurdish issue and make a new constitution after the June 12 elections. He said “We will solve this problem together. We will make a new constitution and pass it together after June 12”.
Erdoğan also referred to the projects he plans to realize in Diyarbakır and mainly the new packages the government has been working on to pass at the parliament. Among Ak Party’s plans for Diyarbakır are to construct a new civilian airport in the province, the construction of the Silvan Dam, construction of two city hospitals and a football stadium with a capacity of 30,000 seats in Diyarbakır as well as building a highway connecting the city with Şanlıurfa. Currently, a military airport serves the region for civil flights.
Referring to their work on new (additional) democracy packages Erdoğan said they were determined to bring more democracy into the country and in fact they took necessary steps one by one.
NEW DEMOCRACY PACKAGES
Erdoğan further went on to say “We have prepared the third package in which we included press freedom as well. We are strengthening this freedom. We are enabling postponing for press punishments. We are bringing reform articles for those involved in simple terror crime. Fight against corruptin is inclded in this package as well.
On the other hand we have already started working on the fourth package. We are focusing on the decisions taken by European Human Rights Court against Turkey. We are determined to take necessary democratic steps in the package, to prevent any further violations by Turkey.
We are now starting a very effective struggle to prevent torture and inferior treatment. There will not be lapse of time any more.
Furthermore we are bringing in equality between defence and prosecution at courts”
The PM also referred to the issue of abortion and sezarian which is the MAJOR isssue in Turkey’s agenda at the moment and signalled that the government is going to take necessary measures to have control over said issue.
02.06.2012
Editor, BTT
