Dialogue sole way forward, Istanbul protesters say

ISTANBUL

The sole solution to the recent social tensions that arose from the ten-day-long protests and clashes is dialogue, the Taksim Platform, the body that speaks for the protesters, said in a statement yesterday.

The platform took on a central role in the early stages of an action to prevent the demolition of Gezi Park in central Istanbul and submitted the demands of the protesters to Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç on June 5.

“We believe that discharging and punishing those who are responsible for the illegal police violence that has been continuing for days, despite the fact that it does not yield any results, would end the violence and provide a peaceful negotiation environment,” the statement read.

“We reiterate our belief that the only solution to the problem is opening the path to dialogue and negotiation,” it said.

The call came after apologies from the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Arınç to peaceful protesters who were hurt in the early stages of the uproar.

Both statesmen have said that they found the peaceful demands legitimate.

Still, Erdoğan said in Tunisia yesterday that he was determined to build a facility on the park.