Has the initiative process ended?

Sabah’s Nazlı Ilıcak, looking at the feeling prevailing among opposition parties about the end of the initiative process on the grounds that cooperation between the AK Party and the DTP has been spoiled, says they miss the point of the initiative as she adds, “Certainly, views will be exchanged with the DTP, even Öcalan’s views regarding the process can be sought behind closed doors but the target of this initiative is the public itself, the Kurdish citizens of this country.” Ilıcak suggests that the initiative process should continue so that more soldiers are not martyred. “The government did not say, ‘Let’s try a Kurdish initiative’ when everything was perfect in Turkey. Security measures have not been shelved during this process and social, cultural and economic steps have been taken that will relieve the Kurdish public and strengthen their commitment to the nation during this process,” explains Ilıcak, stressing the importance of the continuation of this process.

Describing the attack in Tokat as an obvious provocation which aims to block the initiative process, Star’s Mustafa Karaalioğlu thinks those who are clever enough to see this and able to make an analysis of the events should not rejoice like Bahçeli and Baykal, saying, “The initiative process has finally ended.” He says a problem whose history is packed with blood cannot be solved in a single day and that time and patience are needed for its solution. “It is useful for those who are happy at the prospect of the end of the initiative and side with the CHP, MHP and DTP to follow the solution process without excitement. The lack of a solution means a painful process, just as in the past,” remarks Karaalioğlu.