Turkish protestors say PM vows to respect courts on park plans

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a surprise meeting for a second consecutive day with a new delegation that comprised members of the Taksim Solidarity Platform, which was at the center of the protests since the first day, as well as eight artists supporting the demonstrations. During the meeting, Interior Minister Muammer Guler, Environment and Urban Planning Minister Erdogan Bayraktar, Undersecretary of Prime Ministry Efkan Ala, Deputy Undersecretary of Prime Ministry Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogan's chief advisor Yalcin Akdogan and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Huseyin Celik and Erdogan's daughter Sumeyye Erdogan were also present. Taksim Solidarity said Erdogan had promised to abide by the outcome of an ongoing court case filed in an effort to stop the redevelopment and would hold a referendum on the plans if the court found in the government's favor. "The prime minister said that if the results of the public vote turned out in a way which would leave this area as a park, they will abide by it," Tayfun Kahraman of the protest group told reporters following the meeting. "His comments that the project will not be executed until the judiciary makes its decision are tonight's positive result."