BY HASAN CELAL GUZEL
RADIKAL- Kurds are our own full brothers and sisters with whom we have been living together for a thousand of years and sharing the same cultural heritage. Actually, while saying that Kurds are our full brothers and sisters, even the emphasis on the word 'our' evokes discrimination between 'we and them' and this situation disturbs me, because there's no discrimination between us. But an extremely saddening picture emerged in the Southeast Anatolian region, where Kurds intensely live, and the region remained undeveloped due to its physical conditions and the economic and social devastation caused by the separatist terrorism. This situation also causes separatist terrorists' exploitation.
All governments of the Turkish Republic have always tried to do their best to improve the economic and social situation in the Southeast Anatolian Region. Particularly efforts exerted by former presidents Suleyman Demirel and Turgut Ozal can't be denied. But the 'Southeastern Emergency Action Plan,' announced by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Diyarbakir, is the most important project of the last quarter of the century. As Erdogan said, this region won't be an area of exploitation for terrorists anymore, thanks to this 'brotherhood and social restoration project of the century.' As a result of the investment totaling YTL 14.5 billion in 5-year periods by the year 2012, the area of irrigation fields will be increased by six folds to reach 1.8 million hectares, four million people will be provided with additional employment, the income per capita will increase by three folds and social indicators will be improved. The project will cost a total of YTL 27 billion. This project isn't an ordinary aid package, but a serious move to improve the Southeast Anatolian Region. In addition, its social aspect is exceptionally important, particularly in terms of economy.
Following points are important in the implementation of the Brotherhood Project:
1. Erdogan hasn't ignored the country's safety with slogans of democratic and peaceful solution and he was also able to take necessary security measures by carrying out a cross-border operation, when necessary.
2. The government hasn't made a concession from the unitarian state, despite certain domestic and foreign pressures and Erdogan hasn't given up its slogan of a single nation, a single country, a single state and a single flag.
3. A substantial amount of money was invested for the Southeast Anatolian Emergency Action Plan.
4. The Brotherhood Project is firstly the movement of protecting the people living in the region.
5. Interestingly, such a serious move is carried out by a ruling party that is wanted to be closed by the judiciary action.
This project only disturbed focuses of the separatist terrorism and their political representatives. If those who want to close the Justice and Development Party (AKP) are really patriots, they should reevaluate this picture. I sincerely congratulate Erdogan and the government for initiating the Southeastern Emergency Action Plan.