Turkey embarks on critical week for Kurdish initiative

Interior Minister Beşir Atalay is expected to call a press conference today to inform the public of what the government has done so far to settle the problem and what it has in mind as future steps to that end. The DTP is planning to hold a grand rally in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır on Sept. 1 to announce its conditions concerning the Kurdish plan. The party is hoping to gather 1 million Kurds at the rally, which is also considered to be the location for the announcement of suggestions by the jailed leader of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, for settlement of the Kurdish question.

The approaching rally has already drawn the indignation of the country's major opposition parties -- namely the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) -- which stand as staunch critics to the Kurdish plan. Both parties have accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) of treason, claiming that the party viewed the PKK as a party to the solution of the Kurdish problem. The planned DTP rally will probably heat up the accusations of opposition parties toward the ruling party if the pro-Kurdish group turns the rally into a ground for disseminating the propaganda of the terrorist PKK, which observers fear may hamper the determination of the governing party to settle the question.

Atalay will appear before the press at 11 a.m. today to detail the government's roadmap on the Kurdish plan. Whether the minister will explain the content of the plan is under debate. Atalay briefed press members on the plan in the past weeks but declined to comment on its content. Though officially not confirmed, observers believe Kurds will be granted broader cultural and political rights with the plan.

The minister is also expected to send a strong message to the DTP and the PKK during the press conference. Last week he paid a visit to DTP parliamentary group deputy chairman Selahattin Demirtaş and asked him to refrain from any act that could undermine governmental efforts for full peace in the country. Atalay's visit came shortly after a written statement by the DTP official, who claimed that what the AK Party calls an initiative is an embellished presentation of the official state discourse.

Over the past few weeks, Atalay has met with various political parties and civil society organizations to discuss the scope of the plan; however, the CHP and the MHP have refused to schedule an appointment with the minister. Atalay met with five political parties as well as a number of trade and employee unions, including the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD), the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD), the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DİSK), the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK), the Civil Servants' Trade Union (Memur-Sen) and the Turkish Public Workers' Labor Union (Kamu-Sen). All of these organizations expressed support for the initiative.

Observers believe today's press conference will provide tips about a roadmap prepared by the government after Atalay's meetings. The minister is also expected to reiterate his call to political parties and civil society groups to contribute to the peace process.

One of the main points of focus during Atalay's speech will probably be that the Kurdish plan is a national plan, not a one party-based plan.

On various occasions, AK Party officials, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has stressed that the Kurdish plan is part of a national reform package that aims to bring stronger democracy and prosperity to the country.

Atalay is also expected to respond to harsh criticism leveled by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli against the plan and the ruling party. The leader recently accused Erdoğan's party of committing treason over efforts to settle the Kurdish problem.

Draft reports prepared after Atalay's meetings with political and civil society groups showed that five political parties, six workers' unions and 43 civil society groups back the government's plan to find a solution to the question.

Opposition still firm in its position

The CHP and the MHP are still unlikely to contribute to government efforts on the Kurdish plan. Though CHP leader Deniz Baykal gave signs of cooperation with the ruling AK Party for a short while, he returned to his staunch line after a National Security Council (MGK) statement earlier this month.

Following a seven-hour meeting of the MGK, a statement it released underscored that it recommends efforts being made under the supervision of the interior minister should continue in order to provide for the happiness, peace and welfare of society.

According to the CHP administration, the Kurdish initiative is not a state project and is aimed at damaging Turkey's national unity.

The MHP, on the other hand, has never adopted a warm stance toward the government's efforts on the Kurdish plan. It accused the ruling party of treason and said it would never cooperate with the AK Party on the plan.