Demirtas: Not Only the HDP, but the Whole of Turkey Wants Peace
Turkish and U.S. military officials have concluded talks that resulted in an agreement regarding the cooperation of the two countries on efforts against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), reported the Associated Press (AP). Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that a Turkey-U.S. coordinated operation against ISIS would begin soon, while speaking to reporters on Aug. 25.
While Cavusoglu did not provide details about the operation, he did say that the military authorities of both countries have signed off on the agreement.
On July 22, U.S. President Barrack Obama and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to carry out joint airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Several Western news outlets praised the fact that Turkey has joined forces with the U.S. in the fight against extremism. Since the agreement, though, it has become apparent that the main target of Turkey’s offensive has not been ISIS but, rather, the Kurds—the sole force in the region that has proven effective in combating ISIS.
Thousands have been detained in the country in raids over the past month. While Turkish officials have claimed that the raids target suspected members of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), ISIS, and the Marxist Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party Front (DHKP-C), Agence France-Presse (AFG) reported that the overwhelming majority of detainees were Kurds suspected of being PKK members.
So far, more than 65 Turkish military and police officers, and more than 800 people the government has identified as armed militants have been killed, according to the state-run Anadolu News Agency.
Interim Government Appointed, Snap Elections Called
President Erdogan appointed Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to head an interim government on Aug. 24, after Davutoglu failed to form a coalition since the June parliamentary elections and the party lost its 12-year majority rule largely because of the success of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (HDP) that broke the 10 percent barrier and received around 13 percent of the votes, gaining 80 seats in parliament. Erdogan also called for snap elections, which are scheduled to take place on Nov. 1.
When asked about the interim government, HDP Co-Chairman Selahattin Demirtas said that his party is ready to take on three ministries until the elections. “Six million people voted [for us] and they have a right over three ministries,” said Demirtas, speaking to reporters in Ankara on Aug. 25, reported Reuters.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is likely to have 12 ministries; the Republican People’s Party (CHP) seven, while the HDP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will each get three ministries.
Erdogan’s ruling AKP garnered around 41 percent of the votes (258 seats) in Turkey’s June 7 general elections, while CHP earned 25 percent (132 seats) and MHP 16 percent (80 seats). Armenians Garo Paylan (HDP), Markar Esayan (AKP), and Selina Özuzun Doğan (CHP), were elected as Members of Parliament.
The AKP needed 367 seats in order to introduce the “new constitution,” an objective President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had talked about on many occasions. The new constitution would have turned Turkey from a parliamentary system into an executive presidency, giving the president more powers. The AKP’s support was down from the 50 percent (327 seats) it received in the 2011 elections.
Demirtas: Government Must Abandon Hostile Policies
While speaking to reporters in Ankara, Demirtas urged Erdogan and the government to call for an end to the violence that has spread throughout the country and taken a toll on all people of Turkey. “Not only the HDP, but the whole of Turkey wants peace,” Demirtas was quoted as saying by Hurriyet.
Demirtas also reportedly said that the principle intention of the government’s policies over the past month has been to prevent the HDP from passing the ten percent threshold needed to secure parliamentary seats in the upcoming snap elections. “These hostile policies should be immediately abandoned. They [the government] have dragged the country into war and they will surely be held to account for this. They should abandon cries like ‘we will fight to the end’ and ‘we will sacrifice our children.’ Our main issue at the moment is about silencing arms,” Demirtas was quoted as saying.
Two days earlier, on Aug. 23, Demirtas called on the PKK to stop their violence against security forces. “There is no alternative for us. More deaths of Kurds, Turks, soldiers, guerillas and police must be stopped,” Hurriyet quoted Demirtas as saying.
I don’t see how Turkey and the US can fight ISIL while at the same time supporting it.
Turkey has long been pro-ISIL, giving it refuge and weapons, while the US was going along with it and also sending weapons via Libya and Turkey to the most radical groups in Syria.
Their aim, of course, is to overthrow Assad in Syria.
Turkey wants to get rid of the Christians in the Middle East, including Armenians. Is that a US goal?
I don’t know. Is American foreign policy in the Middle East formulated by Christians?
To try to answer your question about getting rid of Christians as a US goal I can tell you this much our news media is full of anti Christian news as well as articles with anti Christian crap to put it bluntly Its so ridiculously obvious and bias against not only Christians but God and the bible also
It is beyond naive that the officials in the US Government, through an agreement, trust Turkey “regarding the cooperation of the two countries on efforts against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). After all, it was Turkey that created the Islamic terror group, ISIS, and helps ISIS get stronger. Turkey’s intent has been and is to destroy Syria and occupy more lands. Two pronged. Turkey will continue to eliminate Kurdish existence and resistance on the way, if the rest of the world doesn’t wake up.
Based on news reports, Turkey is in a turmoil and many uncertainties abound.
1- All efforts to form a coalition government failed. Non of the opposition parties trusted or have confidence in Erdogan’s AKP party to partner with them.
Now, elections are set for Nov 1. It is difficult to predict what the outcome will be. Either the opposition parties will gain more ground, or the AKP will regain some of its losses, which will be an undesirable outcome.
2- The reason the new military agreement was concluded, was primarily to stop the Turkish strikes against the Kurdish fighters in Syria and Iraq. With the new agreement, the Turkish planes will be brought under the umbrella of the US- led coalition which includes Saudi Arabia, France, Britain and some other countries. The coalition was deeply concerned that Turkish planes under the guise that were fighting ISIS were targeting the Kurdish fighters, who were the most effective force fighting ISIS.
Vart Adjemian
Being deeply concerned I beg to differ if they were THAT deeply concerned the answer would be to put a STOP to it lip service is just LIP SERVICE
Our U.S White House {president}Stupidly think that the ottoman erdogan will fight isis? HOW MUCH OF TAX DOLLARS ARE erdogan and his KILLERS being PAID?????? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ by ARMENIANS AND AMERICANS so that then they can kill more CHRISTIANS………..
US government is out of control the media is full of lies and propaganda you are right to ask the question because it is happening but half the people are just sheep and totally under the medias control wish I could give a brighter answer
Don’t trust the Turks, in long run you are going to be the looser, and in Nov. First Erdogan will loose more seats in the Parliament. Wait and see. In Turkey they are more Kurds than Turks plus the Kurds are better fighters. Wake up America!
When it comes to America it’s YOU that needs to wake up. The US and Turkey are strategic partners. US and Turkey jointly assist Islamic extremist groups such as ISIS. They do this because there is an agenda to remake the borders of the region and curb the growth of Iranian and Russian influence.
I to wish Americans would wake up I am one but all I see are media controlled sheep even our schools are full of lies and propaganda It kills me to say this but TRUTH IS TRUTH
It’s funny how Armos are surprised at all this. Hey guys, wake up. Had it been up to Uncle Sam Karabakh would have been given back to azeri turks a very long time ago. Despite their arms sales to Baku, the ONLY reason why Armenia can hold its own against the tag team made up of turks, azeria, israelis and westerners is the RUSSIAN BEAR. Open your eyes we are surrounded by hungry predators. Russia is our ONLY hope for survival. So, think about this before you fools think about ruining our relationship with Russia for “gay rights” and a few dollars. Without Russian boots in Armenia not even a million of you “fedayees” will be able to save Armenia.
Correct message, lousy delivery.
If those pesky “Armos” and “Fedayees” hadn’t been able to liberate Artsakh, would Russia have come in and taken those lands and given it back? Highly improbable. Your lack of respect for our history makes you suspicious and your message less effective. You aren’t going to score any points with your pompous rhetoric with an American-Armenian audience, but the gist of your message happens to be correct.
Correct message, lousy delivery.
Your lack of perception makes you suspicious and your message less effective. The fact is, Armenia was on the losing side while the Soviet Union existed because the politburo wanted to preserve Soviet borders. All that changed in late 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved and the Russian state was reborn. It was only when those pesky Russkies began helping us in 1992 did Armenia reverse the tide and win the war. Armenians at the time were united in cause and very brave but had geopolitical considerations not changed in Moscow between 1991 and 1992 we would not have won against the Azeris. Khojalu, the first Armenian military success in NKR came in the spring of 1992 and the operation was backed by the Russian military. By that time Russia had stopped providing the Azeris military support and had begun airlifting large amounts of modern arms to Armenia. Empty bravado gets nations killed. In other words, wisen up my man.
PS: I could care less what largely assimilated and self-hating “American-Armenian audience” thinks. I think the “American-Armenian audience” needs to wake up from its American dream.