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Bahçeli hits back at ruling party, president for Kurdish initiative
“Here, I would like to ask: How will they protect the unitary structure of the state in a country where a second language will become official? How will a single flag continue to wave in a country where two or even more identities exist? How will it be possible to hold together a society with multiple identities?” asked Bahçeli during his address.
He was directing the questions at Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is also the leader of the governing Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the coordinator of a planned democratization package through which the government hopes to settle the country's chronic problems, including the Kurdish one.
The MHP, however, is against the idea of handling the Kurdish issue in a package, accusing the ruling party of working to undermine the unitary structure of the state.
“The MHP will continue to oppose any political diversions that pose threats to the existence of the nation and national identity no matter where those threats come from. Our party will not serve as an intermediary for those who wish to break the resistance of our nation and make it surrender,” Bahçeli stated.
The MHP leader accused the prime minister and his party of “playing with the dignity and future of the Turkish nation” and noted that he would deem it a national duty to spoil the prime minister's game.
Bahçeli also voiced opposition to the prospect of the signing of two protocols that were disclosed in late August between Armenia and Turkey establishing diplomatic ties and opening the border. “The establishment of diplomatic ties with Armenia at a time when there are numerous problems between the two countries would come as a step back for Turkey with the aim of easing Armenia's concerns. Attempts to please global powers will bring a loss of dignity to Turkey,” he remarked.
The leader also announced that his party would back the idea of extending the mandate that allows the Turkish military to conduct new cross-border operations into northern Iraq to eliminate separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) hideouts in that area. The mandate is expected to be voted and passed in Parliament before the end of this week.
Bahçeli later directed harsh accusations at President Abdullah Gül for remarks during a parliamentary address earlier this week. The president backed the government's efforts to bring more democracy to the country and advised the nation not to fear diversity as the process of respecting differences will serve to strengthen Turkey as a nation.
“The president dwelled on diversity. This is the first time a Turkish president avoided talking about unity and focused on diversity. He did not utter the world ‘Turk' during his speech. This avoidance bears traces of a serious political deviance,” Bahçeli added.
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