Özel's 'Sinan Ateş' and 'normalization' statement: 'Erdoğan is using it to repair his relationship with Bahçeli'

CHP leader Özgür Özel and TRNC Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Chairman Tufan Erhürman met at the CHP Headquarters.

Speaking at the joint press conference held after the meeting, Özel stated that he had visited Erhürman in Nicosia on November 15. Özel shared the information, "We held a very productive working meeting with their valuable delegations, and we were also their guests at a dinner in the evening, where we had the opportunity to evaluate the entire process. They paid us a return visit today, and during this return visit, our Chairman was accompanied by the Secretary of Foreign Relations, Mr. Fikri Toros."

'WE HOPE TO BE TOGETHER WITH ALL OUR FRIENDS'

Özel explained that during the meeting, which was also attended by CHP Deputy Chairman İlhan Uzgel, they evaluated the relations between the TRNC, Turkey, and their respective parties, as well as the trip they will make to the TRNC on the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation.

Özgür Özel reminded that the Cyprus Peace Operation took place under the leadership of CHP's 3rd Chairman and Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, and stated that there are 3 ministers from that cabinet who are still alive today. Reporting that he spoke with ministers Önder Sav and Erol Çevikçe by phone and expressed his desire to go to the TRNC with them, Özel continued as follows:

"Both of them were very pleased with this. Only Mr. Erol Çevikçe stated that he could not make such a trip due to health problems and said that he would be very pleased to be represented in Cyprus by Mr. Önder. Mr. Önder Sav accepted our invitation, and as the CHP delegation, we will go to Cyprus one or two days before the ceremonies. Again, as in the past, we will carry out all the visits we are required to make according to protocol in Cyprus without exception. We hope to be together with previous presidents, prime ministers, and all our friends with whom we would enjoy chatting in Cyprus."

Stating that the CTP will also have a very important place in their Cyprus visits, Özel said, "Beyond our personal relationship with the Chairman, we are in favor of developing the deep-rooted relations between our parties. Not only through mutual visits, but even today, our parties' representatives in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe are fighting together for the interests of our countries and the interests of Cyprus. Even today, they are working together in Strasbourg. We are also following their work closely. Again, both parties are represented together in the Socialist International. Our solidarity there is extremely valuable."

'WE ARE TURKEY'S MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY IN TURKEY, AND WE ARE TURKEY'S PARTY ABROAD'

Emphasizing that they will continue to follow the just cause of the TRNC in the coming period and fight together for the most accurate, most inclusive, and most peaceful solution for the future of the citizens in Northern Cyprus, Özel noted the following:

"We are Turkey's main opposition party in Turkey, and we are Turkey's party abroad. After the upcoming elections, we both want to bring our parties to power in our countries. As sister parties, we sincerely believe that when we come to power in our countries, much better days will be heralded for both Cyprus and Turkey. As two sides that defend brotherhood, peace, and always advocate for good relations, I would like to express that I am very pleased to host our Chairman here today, and I thank him once again for his kind visit."

-ERHÜRMAN'S STATEMENTS

Erhürman also thanked Özel for his invitation and hospitality in his speech.

Touching upon the cooperation between the two parties, Erhürman said that this is "important" in terms of Turkey-TRNC relations.

Erhürman stated that he will host Özel in the TRNC on July 20, and that there are important issues on which the two parties will exchange views.

'THIS STATEMENT ALSO NEEDS NORMALIZATION'

CHP Chairman Özel answered journalists' questions after the statements.

Upon being asked about the words of President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at his party's TBMM Group Meeting, "Our effort for softening in politics, or 'normalization' as our interlocutors put it, is actually an effort to normalize the opposition. It is the opposition that will open the clenched fists," Özel said, "It was not a normal statement. This statement also needs normalization."

'THE LINE WE HAVE REACHED TODAY IS EXTREMELY POSITIVE'

Stating that one hand is not enough for a handshake and that two hands are needed, Özel said, "We know that in the past, fists were clenched, and when our nation favored us to be the first party on the evening of March 31, when they made the CHP the first party 47 years later, we said in our first statement that we would not be arrogant and that we would fulfill the responsibilities of being the first party. I called Mr. Erdoğan during the first holiday, requested an appointment in that meeting, and made the first visit, and it was possible to shake hands after years. The line we have reached today, from a line that did not shake hands at Anıtkabir and did not greet the leader of the main opposition party at funeral ceremonies, is extremely positive."

'ERDOĞAN IS USING IT TO REPAIR HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH BAHÇELİ'

Özel stated that this matter does not have one side or one owner, and said:

"It is neither me nor Mr. Erdoğan alone. Defining normalization to shape the opposition is a sentence constructed at best to please his alliance partner. I understand Mr. Erdoğan on this issue as well. We read his assessment in some newspapers, such as 'The expression used by Mr. Özgür hurt us.' The reason for the use of that expression there was my response to Mr. Bahçeli after he proposed 'breaking the alliance with Erdoğan and us forming an alliance with Erdoğan' as a result of his discomfort with normalization at the Group Meeting. Since that day, Mr. Erdoğan has been using that response to repair his relationship with Mr. Bahçeli. I understand this with understanding."

Stating that the nation appreciates an understanding that can establish dialogue, talk about problems, discuss, and not look at each other as enemies even if they do not convince each other, but also does not neglect the struggle, with both the government and the opposition, Özel stated that democracy will cease to be democracy once the opposition ceases to be the opposition.

MINIMUM WAGE CRITICISM

CHP Chairman Özel continued his speech as follows:

"Today, they announced that they will not raise the minimum wage. If there is no negotiation left to be made in this area with a government that will not raise the minimum wage, the thing to do is to struggle. We will be on the streets and in the squares on June 30 at the Great Labor Rally to be held in Kocaeli to give our answer to the government regarding its stance on not raising the minimum wage. As an opposition party, we have received authority and responsibility from the nation. The difference between us and the MHP is this: we do not have an understanding that collects votes by saying we are against this understanding and then changes sides 180 degrees without another ballot box in between. If anyone expects this from us, they should not wait in vain. We did not receive authority from the nation to fight, to insult the elected President, or just to push and shove with our political interlocutors."

Özel stated that no matter how bad words are said to them, they will continue to show the respect that their offices deserve out of respect for them and the voters who voted for them.

'CONTINUING BOTH NEGOTIATION AND STRUGGLE'

Stating that if they take a step back from their opposition responsibility, the nation will not forgive them, Özel noted the following:

"What the people expect from us is to defend their rights. It is my duty to voice the problems of the tea producer whom Erdoğan forgot in his hometown, the wheat producer in Thrace, Adana, Osmaniye, and Konya, the hazelnut producer in Ordu, the grape producer in Manisa, and the citrus producer in Antalya and our southern coasts, to fight for them, to lead them when the day comes, and to take to the squares. There is no fighting, insult, or slander in our style. But our politics is the most resilient and most effective politics. If they say 'Let's normalize, don't oppose,' we are not there. But if they say 'Will you clench your fists again?', we are not there either. We continue to shake hands, greet, negotiate, and struggle. This is what the nation expects from us."

SİNAN ATEŞ TRIAL

Özel answered the question, "Will you follow the Sinan Ateş trial?" by saying, "We will follow the Sinan Ateş trial. There were some news reports on this subject, and we had said that we would be there regardless of what those reports were. I find Mr. Bahçeli's stance yesterday regarding how they will participate in the trial extremely important in terms of lowering a high tension that Turkey does not need. We criticize the MHP in many ways, but although there are points in Mr. Bahçeli's statements yesterday that I do not agree with and strongly object to, I find it extremely important that he said they would follow the trial with their lawyers and would not increase the tension."

KILIÇDAROĞLU-İMAMOĞLU MEETING

Upon being reminded of the behind-the-scenes information that former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu would meet, Özel noted the following:

"There is a need for normalization on this issue as well. If the party's previous chairman is not meeting, talking, or having dinner with the current chairman, this is a bad thing. What we do is normal. Again, if the two candidates of that great victory, who won Ankara and Istanbul years later, whom he once nominated, and the chairman who nominated them, do not call each other on holidays, do not come together at every opportunity, and do not have dinner from time to time throughout their lives, this is an abnormal situation. I am very pleased with the dinner held last night. I estimate that dinner will be held in the coming weeks; a date had been given for today, but those were unconfirmed behind-the-scenes information anyway. Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu had also called me and said, 'We did not decide on such a dinner date, but we expressed our desire to have dinner.' That dinner will definitely be held; we see from the statements that it will be held. I am also very pleased with that."