‘Kurdistan' row still boiling in Turkish parliamentDecember 18, 2017 - 11:00 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A new row erupted between lawmakers of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) over mentioning the word Kurdistan in the country’s parliament, a word banned since earlier this year, Rudaw reports. The argument began when the MPs delivered messages while discussing Turkey's 2018 budget. “Speaking about Kurdistan and referring to its geography on the map means dividing of Turkish territory,” Mustefa Elitas said in a parliamentary session on Saturday. “No one will allow that. Kurds and Turks live together in this country. We are all Turkish. No one has the right to defend these dirty terrorists. This is unacceptable,” Elitas charged. Alijan Onlu, from the Kurdish city of Tunceli, also known as Dersim, responded that using the term Kurdistan is not unprecedented as he made reference to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who had used the word in the past. “Recep Tayyip Erdogan used the words ‘Kurdistan, Dersim and the mass murder in Dersim’ for his own interests, but we get pressured if we use them,” the HDP MP said. Deputy Parliament Speaker, Ayse Nur Bahcekapili from the AKP, defended Erdogan’s use of the word in a speech he delivered in November 2013, saying that the Turkish president was referring to the country’s constitution in 1920s. In July, the parliament adopted new guidelines that banned use of the terms “Kurdistan,” “Kurdish regions,” and “Armenian Genocide.” Turkey’s parliament suspended Osman Baydemir, HDP’s MP and spokesperson last week, for using the word Kurdistan in the legislature. Addressing the parliament during budget discussions, Baydemir, who represents Sanliurfa in southeast Turkey, referred to his electoral area as Kurdistan and described himself as “a child of the Kurdish people.” 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 | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |