Reconciliation and democratic politics

Davutoğlu said democratic politics was very important in the reconciliation process, arguing that efforts to resolve the Kurdish issue through arms had resulted only in pain."The government's determination to resolve the matter through peaceful means is creating concern among some circles. The environment of violence has created an economic sector. Those with weapons in their hands are asking, ‘What will I do if there is peace?'" he said.Kurdish and Turkish nationalists were also opposed to the reconciliation process, he said, adding, "I'm talking about nationalists with a Baathist mentality." He dismissed criticisms from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) leader, Selahattin Demirtaş, who had argued that the recent momentum in the process could have been initiated months ago, arguing, "We want politicians to be strong. But they first need to act like politicians. He is asking why such a call was not made months ago. It was not done seven months ago because your provocative Twitter message resulted in the Oct. 6-7 violence and that delayed our efforts."

The prime minister said the nation had turned its back on violence and was supporting the government's efforts to peacefully resolve the issue. "The people do not listen to those who claim rights are being trampled on. Everyone needs to focus on the eventual peace and refrain from provocations. As the whole world is dividing along linguistic and ethnic lines, Turkey is resolving a 30-year-old problem," he said.

He also shared with journalists an example of how far Turkey had progressed on the matter. "A mother in Diyarbakır was marrying off her son, and invited me to the wedding. The son had just left the PKK. A boy who could have lost his life anytime in the mountains comes back home and gets married. I would have loved to go to the wedding but I'm very busy," he said.

Reconciliation is a process from which all parties benefit, he said. "If we were thinking of electoral advantage, we could have opted for an easier issue. What is our objective? Political stability. Conducting elections in a peaceful atmosphere is the most important benefit."