Hope emerges for solution to boycott after BDP-AK Party talks

TODAY’S ZAMAN
?STANBUL

Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek (C) on Wednesday met with representatives from the AK Party and the BDP on Wednesday to discuss a possible solution to the BDP’s ongoing boycott.
Representatives from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on Wednesday came together to discuss a possible end to the BDP’s ongoing parliamentary boycott and gave positive messages that boosted hopes for a solution to the two-week-long crisis.
The meeting comes upon an initiative by Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek, who invited BDP and AK Party officials to Parliament for a meeting on Wednesday. Çiçek chaired Wednesday’s meeting, which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Be?ir Atalay, AK Party parliamentary group deputy chairmen Nurettin Canikli and Ahmet Ayd?n and AK Party Deputy Chairman Haluk ?pek, BDP Chairman Selahattin Demirta?, BDP Siirt deputy Gülten K??anak and BDP parliamentary group deputy chairmen Hasip Kaplan and Pervin Buldan.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Canikli said the meeting was positive, but that they have yet to reach an agreement on a solution. Ayd?n also said the meeting was positive and added that the two groups are scheduled to meet on Thursday as well.
The BDP has refused to take an oath and join in parliamentary proceedings in protest of the imprisonment of six of its deputies. Thirty-six independent deputies supported by the pro-Kurdish BDP were elected in the June 12 elections. However, six of the BDP-backed deputies are currently under arrest as part of the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) trial. The BDP made the decision to boycott after the Supreme Election Board (YSK) stripped Hatip Dicle, one of the six jailed BDP deputies, of his mandate over a prior terrorism-related conviction after the June 12 vote.

Demirta? also spoke to reporters after the meeting and said the two sides discussed their proposals for a solution. “In our next meeting, we will decide on what we can do with the AK Party on this issue. … Even the biggest problems of Turkey can be solved through dialogue and trying to understand each other. I hope this crisis also reaches a solution by us trying to understand each other better. We have never defined this problem as an oath crisis. There are obstacles before democratic politics in Turkey. We discussed what we can do about these obstacles. If we obtain a result, we can boost democratic politics,” he said.

He also noted that the BDP would make a more detailed statement on Wednesday evening or Thursday after intra-party discussions. The BDP is currently holding its parliamentary group meetings in the predominantly Kurdish province of Diyarbak?r.

Çiçek recently pioneered talks between the AK Party and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which was also refusing to take the parliamentary oath. The CHP changed its mind on Monday after an agreement on a joint declaration with the AK Party.

Following the CHP’s decision on Monday to backtrack on its refusal to take the parliamentary oath, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an on Monday and Tuesday called on the BDP to adopt a similar stance and to come to Parliament. Demirta?, who earlier complained that the AK Party and the CHP had initially excluded his party from intra-party talks to address the oath crisis, said on Tuesday that his party would consider Erdo?an’s call.

Demirta?’s remarks follow a recent statement by Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), through his lawyers, who said the BDP deputies can take their oaths after reaching an agreement with the government on the issue. Öcalan’s remarks signaled that the BDP may soon take the oath and join Parliament as the pro-Kurdish party is known to be influenced by his opinions. The BDP has not denied links with Öcalan.

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