ANKARA - Turkish Interior Minister Besir Atalay said Wednesday their government believed the so-called "Kurdish Issue" would be solved with an egalitarian approach through democratization.
Atalay told a press conference --held to inform the public about the government measures to address the "Kurdish Issue"-- that this problem could only be solved by enhancement of democratic rights and ensuring that all citizens feel themselves as equal and free individuals.
Atalay said all segments of the society ranging from political parties to civil organizations, displayed a positive approach for overcoming the problem of terrorism through a social consensus, adding that their government wanted to take this opportunity.
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently announced his government initiated a move to deal with Kurdish issue and Ministry of Interior was assigned with coordination of this task.
Since then this issue has received wide media coverage and has created wide controversy about the content of the measures, but Atalay made clear in the beginning of the press conference that they did not yet decide on the measures. He said this was a process where measures would be shaped along the way through consensus of all state organs and all components of the society.
He said they expected everyone to contribute to the solution of the issue, adding that they had been and would continue exerting efforts to include everyone in the process.
"Right this moment here, I'm making a call on all our political parties, intellectuals, writers, civil organizations, labour unions, and all political actors: come participate in this process, We say let's altogether solve this problem; which cause our nation to pay heavy prices, steal the food from our tables and jeopardise our future," said Atalay.
Atalay said they would visit all political parties to ask for their contribution and support.
Established in 1978, PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) started its armed struggle in 1984 after a preparatory period of numerous murders and attacks, with the objective of the establishment, through armed struggle, of an independent Kurdistan within Turkey;s borders.
Since 1984, PKK's terrorist attacks resulted with more than 30.000 Turkish citizens killed, among whom were innocent civilians, children, teachers and other public servants, many deliberately murdered, and large amount of economic loss.
In its history, the terrorist organization also employed suicide-bombing methods, waged mainly by women terrorists in Turkey; and kidnapped foreign tourists in southeastern Anatolia in the early 1990s. In order to damage Turkey's economy, the organization also set forests in Turkey;s tourist resorts on fire.
Presently, it is estimated that there are a total of 5,000 PKK/KONGRA-GEL terrorists, the majority of whom are in northern Iraq whereby the organization's headquarters are situated.