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Settlement Process In Hands Of New Cabinet

02.09.2014 11:14

The ongoing settlement process between the government and the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which was launched at the end of October 2012, has been a key issue for the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), as it aims to resolve Turkey's decades-long armed conflict.After the recent announcement of the new Cabinet following former Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan taking office as president, commentators have begun expressing concern regarding the future of the settlement process. During Sunday's Victory Day reception at the Çankaya presidential palace, Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel made a controversial remark to reporters, stating that the military is not included in the settlement process and has not been informed regarding its roadmap. Despite the ongoing settlement process, the terrorist PKK has recently launched attacks resulting in the deaths of a number of soldiers and abducted construction workers in the Southeast.Okay Gönensin, a columnist with the Va

The ongoing settlement process between the government and the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which was launched at the end of October 2012, has been a key issue for the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), as it aims to resolve Turkey's decades-long armed conflict.
After the recent announcement of the new Cabinet following former Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan taking office as president, commentators have begun expressing concern regarding the future of the settlement process. During Sunday's Victory Day reception at the Çankaya presidential palace, Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel made a controversial remark to reporters, stating that the military is not included in the settlement process and has not been informed regarding its roadmap. Despite the ongoing settlement process, the terrorist PKK has recently launched attacks resulting in the deaths of a number of soldiers and abducted construction workers in the Southeast.
Okay Gönensin, a columnist with the Vatan daily, wrote on Monday that former Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay was the person in charge of orchestrating the settlement process on behalf of the government; however, with the formation of the new Cabinet, Atalay has been replaced by Yalçın Akdoğan, who served as Erdoğan's top aide until recently. This change has raised questions about the future of the settlement process, according to Gönensin.
Looking at the columns Akdoğan published at newspapers Yeni Şafak and Star, it seems as though there should not be a problem after his takeover. Akdoğan pointed out that imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan has thus far kept his promises during the settlement process, Gönensin stated. However, the columnist added that the settlement process is now supposed to be in its second to last stage, which will require the PKK to announce its permanent disarmament and that its members, those in the mountains, in southeastern cities and those outside the borders of Turkey, return to a normal life. During Atalay's term in office as deputy prime minister, certain progress had been made with the direct involvement of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), Gönensin said.
Gönensin pointed out that Öcalan should personally declare progress to this stage, saying, “It would be a historic milestone when the person who pulled out the first gun 30 years ago announces permanent disarmament.” Following such a move, the Davutoğlu government will have to take over and focus on democratic reforms in order to achieve normalization, Gönensin noted.
In another Monday piece titled “At what stage are we in the settlement process?” veteran columnist at the Radikal daily Tarhan Erdem wrote that the settlement process will be a key factor in determining the number of votes the AK Party receives in the 2015 general election. Erdem reminded his readers that the Erdoğan government's policy concerning the Kurdish issue was first announced to the public by Atalay in July 2009 under the name “the Kurdish initiative.” According to Erdem, Atalay, who handed over this mission to Akdoğan on Aug. 28 with the approval of the new Cabinet, deserves all the credit for the progress achieved thus far in the settlement process.

GÜNAY HİLAL AYGÜN (Cihan/Today's Zaman)



 
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