AKP founder Hüseyin Çelik warns against 'complacency' regarding the 'terror-free Turkey' process: 'It is essential to stay away'

Hüseyin Çelik, a former AKP Van MP who served as Minister of Culture during the 58th government and as Minister of National Education during the 59th and 60th governments, shared his assessments regarding the PKK's disarmament ceremony in Sulaymaniyah on his social media account. 

In his statement, Çelik noted the following:

"Today, a symbolic ceremony regarding the 'disarmament' process was held by the PKK in the Casene Cave region, located in the countryside of the Dukan district of Sulaymaniyah. This step has been reflected to the public under the name 'Peace and Democratic Society Group,' and it has been stated that the struggle will continue on a democratic basis. As both a citizen of the Republic of Turkey and a person from the region, I see this development as a meaningful and positive step toward healing one of our country's chronic wounds.

It is time to approach this issue, which has cost us lives, resources, and social peace for many years, with reason, conscience, and responsibility. Both sides have painful memories in their history. However, we cannot condemn our future to the burden of the past. We must place our dreams, our hopes, and our will to live together ahead of our memories. We must not forget that this issue is not just the business of the DEM Party, nor is it the personal responsibility of President Erdoğan, nor is it on a ground narrow enough to be left to the initiative of any single political actor. This is the issue of all of Turkey.

"IT IS ESSENTIAL TO STAY AWAY FROM DIVISIVE LANGUAGE"

The duty that falls upon us as a society is to contribute to strengthening the democratic and legal foundation so that the process becomes permanent, without falling into the complacency of thinking 'everything is resolved.' At this point, it is especially essential to stay away from language that is marginalizing, exclusionary, and divisive. We must rebuild our discourse with a solution-oriented and inclusive understanding. It is of great importance that the necessary steps be taken on both legal and constitutional levels for this process to proceed healthily. Turkey must be a pluralistic and democratic state of law where everyone's ethnic origin, language, belief, and lifestyle are respected. True peace is possible through law, democracy, and mutual empathy. What Turkey needs today is not more authoritarianism; it is more democracy, stronger law, and a more deep-rooted social consensus. I thank all individuals and institutions who have courageously taken responsibility in this process on behalf of myself and my country. I hope that this step will be the beginning of a permanent and restorative peace process.”

News Source: 12punto