He said the government would continue to take determined and courageous steps to solve the Kurdish problem, which has dealt substantial damage to Turkey over the past 25 years. While Atalay's statements made some who termed the government's move a groundbreaking and historic one happy, others expressed disappointment mainly because no concrete proposals were put forward. Milliyet's Hasan Cemal says although some may find Atalay's statements regarding the Kurdish problem disappointing, he is optimistic because the government took the first step toward a solution, even though it was a cautious one. Agreeing with Atalay, who said the issue has sensitive aspects and therefore the right thing is not to act hastily, he warns that high expectations set by the government could lead to bigger disappointments in the long run.
In Cemal's view, the important thing at this point is laying down weapons, and he called remarks made by pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) leader Ahmet Türk, who called on the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to stop operations, very significant. “The biggest responsibility falls on the shoulders of the PKK to stop clashes. This could be maintained with an open-ended, unconditional cease-fire. And the person who will make this happen is PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. If Öcalan takes a cautious step today instead of coming up with unrealistic demands, Turkey can enter a democratic and peaceful solution process,” suggests Cemal.
Akşam's Aslı Aydıntaşbaş thinks Atalay's statements were a good start toward a solution to the Kurdish problem even though he did not reveal concrete details regarding the government's Kurdish initiative. “I say ‘good' because Atalay achieved something very important despite his baritone voice and unenthusiastic sentences. He gave us hope and optimism. He gave the signals of extensive and determined work. He used encouraging discourse, which will help the continuation of the current positive atmosphere in the Southeast and the media,” explains Aydıntaşbaş.
Bugün's Ahmet Taşgetiren is at odds with other columnists as he finds Atalay's statements unconvincing and the government's Kurdish initiative one that lacks sufficient democratic content. Criticizing Atalay for not using the word Kurdish while referring to the Kurdish initiative and choosing instead to say “democratic initiative,” he says Atalay showed that the government's work toward a solution to the Kurdish problem has not yet dealt with the core of the problem.
Hürriyet's Cüneyt Ülsever is also among those who were not satisfied with Atalay's statements on the grounds that he did not describe any concrete steps the government will take to solve the Kurdish problem. “It seems that a political will that would bring forward concrete proposals and take the political risks of these proposals has not yet emerged. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan should show this will in line with his title. He needs courage to do so,” says Ülsever. In his view, as long as the government fails to speak to Kurds to solve the Kurdish problem, it will not be successful in its efforts to find a solution. “The government does not speak to the PKK; this is fine. Then it should prepare a concrete program for a solution and launch dialogue with the DTP. Otherwise, do not occupy Kurds with promises again,” suggests Ülsever.
