Istanbul’s branch of the Democratic Society Party, or DTP, has said it is planning to reapply to the Governor’s Office for permission to gather and welcome the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, members who are expected to come from Europe.
Çiğdem Uçar, DTP Istanbul branch’s co-president, said in a press conference in Istanbul on Tuesday that they would insist on their request to convene in Kazlıçeşme whenever the PKK members arrive from Europe. Uçar said they did not know the exact date of the arrival so they are expected to apply for an undetermined date. Uçar also said it was clear from the demonstrations in Diyarbakır that people would gather to welcome the PKK members who are expected to arrive soon.
AKP takes step back
Volkan Akyıldırım, from the Democratic Solution Platform, a platform formed by political parties and movements aiming to contribute to a solution of the Kurdish issue, said the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, took a step back in not allowing the European group to come to Turkey. With its recent approach, the AKP joined the side of pro-war parties such as the Republican and People’s Party, or CHP, and the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, Akyıldırım said. Reading the statement in a press conference, Akyıldırım said it is promising that despite all the provocations and brakes on the process, Turkish and Kurdish people have remained calm.
“People have not clashed with each other despite all the agitation. They cannot restrain the desire for peace that has been inside of them for so many years,” he said.
Akyıldırım also accused the AKP of not considering serious steps to a solution of the Kurdish question. The recent developments reveal that the AKP’s Kurdish initiative has been found empty and does not offer any serious solutions, he said.
Akyıldırım also said there is distrust among people in Turkey toward the Kurdish initiative. He said this distrust, however, does not stem from the DTP or the Kurdish people, but from the AKP’s practices. “Although Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] said he would take any risk to solve the problem, it has been revealed that he could not and instead has taken a step backward.” He also said the DTP and the Kurdish people should not be blamed for the slowing down of the Kurdish initiative.
Akyıldırım said despite all the restrictions the Democratic Solution Platform members would work with the returnees from northern Iraq and Europe.

Hürriyet.