Erdogan slams opposition leaders for opposing, sight unseen, govt plans for Southeastern Anatolia

Speaking at a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) gathering in the Black Sea province of Rize, his hometown, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday continued to criticize opposition leaders for taking a hard-line stance on the government's planned democratic initiative to solve the country's longstanding Kurdish or southeastern Anatolia issue, saying that they know nothing of the unfinished plan. Erdogan said after work on the initiative, led by Interior Minister Besir Atalay, is completed, he would announce its details himself. "We will solve this issue through democracy and the rule of law under the roof of Parliament," he said. Responding to opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli's criticisms of the initiative, Erdogan said that Bahceli had refused to meet to discuss the plan, without even knowing anything about its content. This belies opposition claims that they are favor of compromise, Erdogan added. Expressing his belief that many members of the MHP and main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), also publicly opposed to the plan, actually favor a solution and are uneasy with their leaders' stance, Erdogan urged them to voice their views. Stressing that Turkey is on the verge of a new era, Erdogan added, "This democratic opening will not weaken Turkey but strengthen it. It will pour comfort into the hearts of mothers from across Turkey, taking away their pains and soothing their tears. This initiative will give the necessary answer to those who try to disrupt this nation by sowing frictions between various groups which lived like brothers for a thousand years." In related news, in an effort to drum up support for the initiative, this week Interior Minister Atalay spoke with the heads of smaller parties represented in Parliament as well as Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Atalay said that the government wants to solve the issue by reaching a broad social consensus, adding that they have no prejudice. He also said that the issue should not be sacrifice to petty political concerns, and that his efforts will continue.