Thousands rally to demand democratic solution to Kurdish question in TurkeyMay 16, 2011 - 12:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - 50 thousand people joined the election rally organized in Diyarbakır by the Labor, Democracy and Freedom (Emek, Demokrasi ve Özgürlük) Bloc. The demonstrators were chanting slogans for peace and a democratic solution to the Kurdish Question. Passionate speeches were delivered by Diyarbakır former MP and candidate Leyla Zana and by candidates Altan Tan, Şerafettin Elçi, Nursel Aydoğan and Emine Ayna. Independent candidate (and former DTP, Democratic Society Party co-chair) Emine Ayna, addressed the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying. "I will not refer to him as Prime Minister because he is not acting as a Prime Minister towards us. So I simply say, Recep Tayip Erdoğan says that 'there were Kurds but we solved this issue'. And now he said there are no Kurds. And people should simply take his word as evidence of this.” “The reality is hat the ruling party's police is killing the Kurds who reclaim their rights and language,” she said, ANF News Agency reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |