Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug. 19 / Trend , E.Ostapenko/
The Turkish government's new dialogue with the Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) is a positive step in solution of the Kurdish problem, President of the Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress of the Council of Europe, Ian Micallef believes.
"The Congress has always been committed to contributing to a peaceful solution of this problem through cooperation and through the strengthening of local and regional structures in Turkey, notably in South-East-Anatolia. This development and in particular the new dialogue with the Kurdish parliamentary party, the DTP, is positive news for the whole Turkish nation and for Europe," Micallef said, CE reported.
A while ago, at the meeting of the governing Justice and Development Party (JDP), Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey will solve the Kurdish problem at any price.
"We will solve all problems through national unity," said Erdogan.
Earlier, the head of the Turkish Government met with the DTP Leader Ahmet Türk. The Prime Minister said that the meeting took place in a positive vein, and the settlement of the Kurdish issue will enter an active phase soon. Turk said that the meeting is the beginning of a dialogue between the parties.
The Congress President underlined the willingness of the Council of Europe's local and regional body to support this move of the Turkish government. According to Micallef, this could be a historic opportunity to strengthen local and regional democracy in Turkey.
Micallef believes the debate about the situation of local authorities in South-East-Anatolia during the next Congress Session in October will be an occasion for the Turkish government, for local authorities and for civil society to take a stand with regard to the consolidation of local self-government. In addition, the new monitoring report which will be also discussed during the Plenary Session could contribute to improving the situation of local and regional democracy, he added.
"I am hopeful for a real step forward in this respect," concluded Micallef.
Turkey discussed the issue of a many-year Kurdish problem earlier, as well. This year, for the solution to this issue, the Turkish authorities allowed 24-hour broadcasts of public television and radio stations in the Kurdish language. It is not ruled out that a ban will be removed from Kurdish names of settlements in the south-east Turkey, mainly Kurdish-populated, as well as teaching the Kurdish language at the university.
The terrorist Kurdistan Workers Party is holding armed struggle for autonomy for the Kurdish parts of Turkey for 25 years. The conflict claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people.
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