ANKARA - Pointing to Abdullah Öcalan's call and the PKK's congress, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said, "Turkey's Grand National Assembly has a duty from now on."
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli met at the Parliament. Kurtulmuş and Bahçeli held a joint press conference after the meeting which lasted approximately 25 minutes. Kurtulmuş said that they exchanged ideas on the ongoing discussions on the solution of the Kurdish issue and how the process should continue.
Kurtulmuş said. “Mr Bahçeli has a historical contribution and leadership in the start of the process. Especially with the statement of İmralı and the subsequent declaration of the ‘terrorist’ organisation that it would abide by this statement and accept to lay down arms, a new process has started in Turkey. In order fort this process to be concluded openly, in front of the eyes of our nation and in a fully planned manner, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey has a duty from now on.”
'A COMMITTEE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED'
Referring to the steps to be taken in the Parliament, Kurtulmuş said: "A commission representing all political parties in the Parliament will be formed to follow, control and lead the process. We have mutually renewed our ideas with this process. I hope that the upcoming process will be finalised in the best way possible by fulfilling this historical responsibility of the Parliament. At a time when the region is experiencing such great changes, Turkey has a historic opportunity. This opportunity requires supra-political responsibility. This is not a political process that any political party or wing can put forward and realise alone. This is not a matter of give and take. It is the establishment of a voluntary process of togetherness and brotherhood. I hope that everyone will fulfil their responsibilities. Under the control of the Parliament, this issue will be fully realised in a negotiation environment. The responsibility here lies with the Parliament. I invite political parties to share this responsibility."
Answering the question about whether the Commission will be established and whether there was an exchange of ideas in this direction, Kurtulmuş said, "We made evaluations on how the Parliament will work. In the coming days, we will clarify and share with the public how it will work."
Answering the question whether the commission will be established before the Parliament goes into recess, "As soon as possible," he said.