Kurdish Question

According to Murat Akgün from NTV, Gül spoke to journalists on his visit to Kyrgistan. Referring to the Kurdish question, he is quoted as saying: "Is this not Turkey's most pressing problem? We will solve it ourselves by raising Turkey's democratic standards."

Gül is also said to have warned of any further delays, saying, "The more time passes, the more problems mount up."

The president further emphasised that politicians, NGOs and intellectuals were all mobilising with "good intentions". He added that it was important to preserve the unity of the nation while strengthening the sense of belonging to the country that everyone felt.

Differences as an enrichment

This would happen, so Gül, if the differences in the country were perceived as an enrichment. "If we see our differences as wealth, then the respect, love and tenderness we feel for each other will also increase. This in turn will strengthen our national unity, and the attachment that the citizens of this country feel."

Gül reiterated that violence had no place in this process. "There will be no negotiation with terrorist organisations, that cannot be considered at state level. When there is violence, it is even difficult to raise democratic standards."

All called upon to contribute

The president urged speed and called on the media, intellectuals, academics, party leaders and the government to "do their duty."

He called on the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) and all other parties represented in parliament to make contributions to this process. (TK/AG)