BDP leader criticizes Zana

HAKKARİ /ANKARA

To be hopeful on the AKP is naive says Co-leader of the BDP Demirtaş. AA photo

The co-leader of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Selahattin Demirtaş has criticized the comments of Kurdish politician and independent deputy Leyla Zana, who recently said that Prime Minister Erdoğan could solve the Kurdish issue.

Commenting on Zana’s words, Selahattin Demirtaş said it was the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) that had run the harshest assimilation policies toward Kurds in Turkey’s history.

“The person who has the most power can stop this issue. I believe it is the head of the government, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who will solve this issue. I haven’t given up my hopes about this. Now, we should all make him feel that we support him,” Zana said in an interview with daily Hürriyet printed on June 14.
“They have realized political genocide and military operations and have taken the Kurdish issue back 100 years,” Demirtaş said, adding that to be hopeful on the AKP was naive.

“Demirtaş also added that those who were aiming to divide the BDP would not reach their aims.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said he appreciated Zana’s words. “I do hope that other BDP deputies can have the same perspective,” he said.