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We will leap over the flame of democracy on Newroz: deputy PM

The deputy prime minister, referring to the upcoming Kurdish holiday on March 21, says let's eliminate all weapons and violence in the flames of Newroz for a long-lasting peace

Ersin Çelik
13:52 - 12/03/2015 jeudi
Update: 15:23 - 12/03/2015 jeudi
Yeni Şafak

Turkish deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan stated his country arrived at a crucial stage in its peace process with the Kurds.


“We will let violence and weapons burn in the flames of democracy and we will leap over the the flame of democracy on Newroz,” said Akdoğan in his speech to the heads of the chambers of commodity exchanges from the eastern provinces on Wednesday, March 11.


Akdogan spoke in reference to March 21, a special, celebrated day for Kurds to traditionally mark their solidarity on the New Year holiday, which is also the spring equinox. Newroz is still celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan and former Soviet Central Asian States.


The deputy prime minister emphasized that the imprisoned PKK leader’s recent calling on his followers to lay down arms is a turning point in the peace process with Kurds.


“If a country has democracy, the weapons have no place there. I believe the Newroz will be a turning point in this process,” he said.


Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu received cabinet members and his key aides to discuss the latest developments in the government’s peace initiative on Wednesday.


This is the first meeting following Öcalan’s call to bid farewell to arms, as part of the peace process.


The intelligence service chief, Hakan Fidan, who has been recently re-appointed to his post by the prime minister, was present at the meeting. The officials mainly focused on the message of unity and peace, which will be released during the Newroz festival.


The government believes the Newroz will serve as a launch pad to accelerate the peace process with the Kurds. If a permanent agreement is reached with Kurds, it would bring an end to a 30-year-old struggle, which has claimed over 40,000 lives.

#Newroz
#Hakan Fidan
#Öcalan
#Davutoğlu
#festival
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