ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
Four former deputies of the defunct Democracy Party (DEP) met on Tuesday with German Ambassador in Ankara, Wolf Ruthart Born.
The ambassador was absent in a luncheon that the four former deputies hosted on Monday for European Union representatives in Ankara, as well as the U.S. ambassador and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, citing a prior appointment.
Born hosted Leyla Zana, Selim Sadak, Orhan Dogan and Hatip Dicle at a breakfast. The German ambassador welcomed a court decision for their release a month ago but also made clear to the pro-Kurdish deputies that they should clearly distance themselves from terrorism and violence.
Only a handful of EU ambassadors attended the lunch on Monday and majority of embassies sent senior officials instead. British, French and U.S. ambassadors were also absent.
In a speech to the audience, Zana underlined opposition to terrorism and said people of the southeastern Anatolia, which they have visited recently, wanted peace and dialogue for solution of problems.
The former deputies reiterated the same messages at the meeting with German ambassador and said problems should be resolved within the unity of Turkey. They did not elaborate on plans for future political activities because their court case has not yet been closed.
The four were released from prison last month after spending ten years in jail for alleged links to the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) but a final decision in the case is yet to be issued.