Celik: Referendum may be held for Gezi Park

After a meeting held by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a group of 11 people consisting of artists, academics and students regarding the Gezi Park protests, Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Huseyin Celik spoke to press members yesterday in Ankara. Celik said that the government would look into the issue of organizing a referendum in Istanbul. "The prime minister said that since we want to know what the people think, we can bring the option of a referendum to the concerned bodies. With a decision from the AKP's Central Executive Committee, the necessary step could be undertaken," Celik said during the press conference. Celik also said that the demolition of the Ataturk Cultural Center would not be included in the referendum, because the building was not strong enough to survive an earthquake. "I address my young brothers that demonstrate, sleep, eat and drink at Gezi Park. Since there is such a decision for the possibility of a referendum, we think that after this gesture of goodwill Gezi Park should be emptied and life there should be brought back to normal," Celik added.