KURDISH QUESTION

Interior Minister Beşir Atalay confirmed that he met with Democratic Society Party (DTP) Co-Chairman Ahmet Türk after the closure of the party.

Atalay said that he invited Türk to the Ministry of the Interior. According to the minister, they met on 13 December. During the conversation over a cup of tea, Atalay expressed his sympathy to Türk regarding the closure of the party. Afterwards, as reported in the media, they talked on the phone, Atalay said.

The request is there, but no initiative

When answering questions to the journalists related to the closure of DTP and party closures in general, Atalay indicated that he was against the closure of political parties. However, there has not been initiated any work on this topic yet, since a consensus in the parliament is needed first, the minister explained. "The request is there. But the initiative is the decision of our party. There is no actual work. We have been saying this for a long time. Also the prime minister said this. We do not consider the punishment of corporate bodies as reasonable. Punishment must be related to a real person. But the start of the initiative will be a decision of governance. That is a different issue", Atalay illustrated.

AKP will decide on DTP resignations

Referring to questions about the acceptance of the DTP MPs resignations, Atalay expounded, "As a party we did not talk about the position of the DTP. It is their own decision. If they submit a resignation petition, the parliament will vote on that. A decision of our party will be necessary. It will be a decision of the party management". (TK/VK)