Deputy PM, President Gül hold ‘positive’ meeting over Gezi protests

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç told reporters today that he held a positive meeting and received instructions from President Abdullah Gül. DHA Photo

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç told reporters today that he held a positive meeting and received instructions from President Abdullah Gül during a meeting to address the Gezi Park protests sweeping Turkey.

“We had a positive meeting. We received his instructions and shared opinions,” said Arınç.
Arınç said he met the president in his capacity as deputy prime minister amid Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Morocco.

On June 3, Gül invited Arınç to the presidential palace for a meeting about the ongoing protests.
Gül also reportedly invited Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli and Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, according to sources.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu met with Gül earlier June 3 to share his concerns about the week-long protests across the country, criticizing Erdoğan’s attitude on the issue.

Democracy is not just about elections, Gül said earlier June 3 in response to the ongoing Gezi Park protests, adding that the message was received by authorities.

Gül intervened on June 1 to stop the police crackdown in Taksim, urging “sensitivity and maturity” to calm the tensions down.