Erdogan meets with members of wise men

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday met for the first time with the members of the wise men commission tasked with explaining the ongoing settlement process with the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to the public and promoting the negotiations. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay, Bulent Arinc, Bekir Bozdag, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, Interior Minister Muammer Guler, Culture and Tourism Minister Omer Celik, Justice and Development Minister (AKP) deputy leader Huseyin Celik and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan. Speaking to reporters prior to the meeting which was held at the Prime Ministry Office in Dolmabahce, Istanbul, Erdogan described the wise persons as a "snapshot of the 76 million," adding, "We have some thoughts about the path that we will embark upon. However the consultations that this delegation will hold are also going to be decisive for the path and the method that we will follow." Erdogan also praised the participants for their eagerness to contribute the talks, saying, "The people here are not only wise, they are also brave, idealistic, patriotic and pacifistic. The fact that so many people from different backgrounds stand in the same picture has revived hopes for a solution." Erdogan also said that those who oppose a settlement of the Kurdish dispute only want the deaths to continue, noting that this mentality is neither humanistic nor conscientious. Erdogan added that he was open to any contribution from outside the 63 members of the commission.