Counterterrorism summit to convene in Ankara

Following an announcement by Kılıçdaroğlu that he was prepared to participate in such a meeting, Prime Minister Erdoğan confirmed that a meeting could indeed take place -- with the full participation of top-level political and military figures, including Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ. The gathering at the Çankaya presidential palace -- which will be chaired by President Abdullah Gül -- will tackle the issue of increasing acts of terrorism in Turkey perpetrated by the separatist outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The situation has led civil society groups to issue their own calls to the PKK to lay down its arms, forcing political actors to revaluate their stances in the face of the worsening conditions.

Şahin speaks out

Following statements released by multiple NGOs, Parliament Speaker Şahin made his own public remarks, asserting that a meeting between Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu would boost public morale and force the PKK to take a step back.

“It would be good if the prime minister and Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu were to come together now. Nobody would be upset by this. I certainly think that it would be of great benefit if the esteemed leaders of our political parties were to appear engaged in collaborative counterterrorism efforts since this is an issue that supersedes party affiliations. They can make common determinations and work together to bring these steps to life. This would give the public an incredible boost in morale and also force the terrorist organization back,” he said.

CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu immediately responded positively to Şahin’s recommendation, saying that he was prepared to participate in any such gathering.

“I have never conducted politics that create tension -- just the opposite, I’ve always recommended calm. I have expressed my opposition to terrorism and made clear that on this topic, a national policy must be pursued. Should the prime minister wish for such a meeting, then there’s no problem from our end,” the CHP leader said. Emphasizing that the latest spike in terrorist attacks underscored the necessity for the development of a common plan of action, he said, “What we need to do is establish a common viewpoint that includes political parties, civil society organizations and state institutions.”

Meanwhile, it has also been learned that Kılıçdaroğlu plans to follow in the recent steps of Erdoğan and visit a military outpost on the Turkish border, the front line for the security forces’ battle with terrorists, in order to boost soldiers’ morale.

Erdoğan is apparently warm to the idea of a meeting with Kılıçdaroğlu, as such a gathering never happened between the prime minister and Kılıçdaroğlu’s political predecessor, former CHP leader Deniz Baykal. Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu were side-by-side for the first time since the latter took up his post on June 3 at a meeting of the Turkish Exporters Council; the counterterrorism summit will be the first time the two leaders have come face-to-face in a meeting.

Speaking with Today’s Zaman, AK Party deputy chief Salih Kapusuz said his party had never shied away from engaging opposition parties, remarking that in order to solve the country’s basic problems all political parties needed to meet frequently to develop a common stance. “As the government and as a party we are ready to hear and receive all kinds of constructive contributions. Why shouldn’t a meeting like this happen?” he said.

Terrorism is a problem above all other political considerations, he said, and the prime minister is prepared to meet with not just Kılıçdaroğlu but all opposition party leaders. “It almost an obligation for the prime minister to meet with opposition parties on the topic of the country’s fundamental problems. Our prime minister has no hesitation when it comes to coming together -- prime ministers should actually constantly meet with opposition parties. But in the previous political period, this didn’t happen. We hope that after this point this will become a tradition. It is right for the opposition and ruling power to meet over topics such as terrorism. As the AK Party, we welcome this,” he said.

Kapusuz said that Erdoğan was even warm to the idea of meeting with Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, who had suggested that an Emergency Rule Region (OHAL) -- essentially martial law -- be declared in Turkey’s terror-stricken, impoverished eastern and southeastern provinces. However, he said, these meetings do not necessarily have to take place under the chairmanship of the president. On an issue as sensitive as terrorism, it would also be of benefit for opposition parties to meet with military and police officials from time to time, Kapusuz said.

The AK Party is planning to have the meeting between the prime minister and the main opposition leader at Çankaya palace under the chairmanship of President Gül. According to AK Party staffers, though, participation in the meeting does not have to be restricted to Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu alone; they say that the leaders of the MHP and pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) as well as the other political parties represented in Parliament should also be invited to take part. It may even be possible for Chief of General Staff Gen. Başbuğ to join in as well, giving the political leaders solid information on the military’s stance on the all-important terrorism issue.