EGEMEN BAGIS MEETS WITH KEMAL BURKAY

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis met with writer and prominent political figure Kemal Burkay who returned to Turkey after 31 years. Bagis said: "Those who are annoyed with Burkay's return are also making politics over the terrorist attacks. However we believe that such mentality has come to an end."

Delivering a speech in the joint press meeting at the Ministry for EU Affairs' Ortaköy Office in Istanbul, Minister Bagis indicated that problems could only be solved amicably through dialogue and that the terrorist organization PKK should lay down its arms to achieve such a dialogue. Minister Bagis said "I see that Mr. Burkay's 'PKK battled against Kurdish people.' evaluation was highly appreciated by the local community. And as our Prime Minister said in 2005, 'Kurdish issue is my problem and we have to solve this', and this approach is still valid."

Egemen Bagis also said:

"I would like to thank Mr. Burkay also for his support for our "National Unity and Brotherhood" project. In this context, I really appreciate that he made use of our Prime Minister's clarion call and returned to Turkey. I would particularly like to emphasize that we do not approve the political abuse to be made over him by anyone. I hope that he will make significant contributions for Turkey becoming a home for democracy, freedom and peace."

Kemal Burkay stated that now the bloodshed had to be stopped and everybody had to do their best for it and extended his thanks.

Source: AA