Zana reveals details of Erdoğan meeting

BRUSSELS - Anatolia News Agency

Leyla Zana (L), an independent member of the Turkish Parliament from the eastern province of Diarbakır, met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 30. AA photo

Leyla Zana, an independent deputy from the southeastern city of Diyarbakır, revealed details from her meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a speech in the European Parliament.

“I told the esteemed Prime Minister what I always say. The things I say in here or in court were on the agenda. I don’t want to go into all the details of our talk, but at one moment he turned to me and said: ‘You drew a very pessimistic picture.’ Upon this I said, ‘Those around you are optimistic enough. It is my duty to narrate to you all the negativities and the bare facts, because you are the primary political authority in this country. Let the positive things be yours. However, everyone must work in cooperation to erase the negative conditions.’ Our meeting lasted for about an hour and a half. He behaved so politely. I told him about the negative conditions in Turkey in a detailed way and he listened to me very carefully,” Zana said.

“I hope and wish that they carry out implementations as they did three years ago, because now the concept of security-priority is harming every segment of society. Only democracy and reforms in rights and liberties could stop the violence and terror,” she said.

When speaking at the “Women Rights and Freedom of Expression in Turkey” session, Zana indicated that Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), should actively participate in the solution process. “The debates ongoing in Turkey about Öcalan’s participation in the process show that society is ready for a solution. Political power should immediately take new steps,” Zana said.
Zana, an independent member of the Turkish Parliament, met with Erdoğan June 30.