Delivering a speech at a symposium called "Local Administrations, Economic Development and Politics," which brought interested parties together on Sunday in Şanlıurfa's district of Viranşehir to discuss the economic imbalance between Turkey's regions, Baydemir, a member of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), asserted: "Diyarbakır is a fortress for us and we wouldn't give it away to anyone."Baydemir went on to say that out of the 18 least developed cities in Turkey, 15 of them are in eastern and southeastern Anatolia, adding: "The Priority Development Regions project has not been put into effect for years. The government should develop regional strategies as soon as possible."
Furthermore, Baydemir opposed Erdoğan's criticism that the elected officials in the region were unnecessarily engaging in politics instead of focusing on their elected duty of serving the public, saying: "Erdoğan criticizes our local administrations and municipalities for engaging disproportionately in politics. It is true that we, the mayors of eastern municipalities, engaged in politics together before the July 22 election. I also did so, but it is good that I did because a serious problem of representation existed in Parliament back then, making it necessary to express many of the demands or requests through mayors."
Saying that this situation changed after the July 22 elections, Baydemir noted that they now have a group in Parliament. "Our group is now at the political stage on behalf of us. I will try not to overstep our group."
Baydemir also criticized Erdoğan for his words, "I want the AK Party to win in all of the municipalities, but especially in Diyarbakır," saying: "Aren't these cities included in the 81 provinces of Turkey? What does it mean for the prime minister to want to win DTP-held municipalities 15 to 16 months prior to the local elections? He is the prime minister of 81 provinces -- and if he doesn't consider himself the prime minister of these provinces, that is his business." He also asserted that the public would choose whoever they think deserves to be elected.
Erdoğan's desire to win the eastern municipalities stem from his own political ambitions, but he is able to serve all the municipalities as the prime minister without his party winning every single one of them, Baydemir said.
In addition to Baydemir, journalists Ragıp Duran, Yasemin Çongar and Kemal Polat and the vice president of the Şanlıurfa Chamber of Commerce and Trade also took part in the symposium.
