Turkish president seeks to calm Kurdish tensions

apc2010


Joined: 28/07/2010
Posts: 1689

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 02:17

Turkish President Abdullah Gul is set to make a one-day visit to Turkey's main Kurdish city, Diyarbakir, on Thursday. The trip comes as political tensions continue to rise over an initiative launched by the country's main Kurdish party for greater rights.



In addition to meeting with local state officials and businessmen, Gul was also expected to meet with the mayor of the Diyarbakir, Osman Baydemir, who is one of the leading figures in the Kurdish initiative launched earlier this month, which calls for democratic autonomy and the right to use the Kurdish language in aspects of public life, including in education



http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14742945,00.html

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 13:21

Could this herald the break-up of Turkey or a civil war in the east? Makes the Cyprob look like small beer.

gary1950


Joined: 30/12/2010
Posts: 15

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 14:03

They are certainly not unhappy "in the East" at the moment - they treated Gul as a hero on his visit to Diyarbakir.



However, the army and Bahceli's nationalists are none too pleased, but what with the CHP and most Turks supporting the AKP on this one, this won't lead to civil war.

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 14:07

gary,

How many people in the area do you think were pleased to see Gul compared with those who weren't? With the security forces around in such numbers and preparation, dissent and unrest was unlikely.

gary1950


Joined: 30/12/2010
Posts: 15

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 14:51

Hi Denny,

You might be right ... but what with Gul's party giving the go-ahead to allow Kurds to read publications in their own language ... an attack on the president wasn't that likely ...

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 15:25

There is only 1 national language in Turkey,and I can assure you that it is NOT Kurdish.



Those were the exact comments of Tayyip Erdogan,the prime minister's words at a conference few days ago.