Wise people attend Anadolu Agency Editor's desk

Wise people attended Anadolu Agency (AA) Editor's desk to share their observations about their meetings with public within the framework of the solution process on Thursday. Eastern Anatolia Region Board President Can Paker said people in the region were aware of the solution process. "There are protests and provocations as in the other regions. However almost 90 percent of the people in the region support the solution process," Paker added. Paker also emphasised that western Turkey did not know much what the people in the east went through. South-eastern Anatolia Board member Ahmet Faruk Unsal pointed out they performed their works in the most damaged and hurt region of Turkey. "When we first arrived in the region 82-83 percent of people supported the solution process but now the support has increased," Unsal said. "We can observe that the negative ideas of those who previously had worries, had begun to change after finding the opportunity to express those worries.Therefore I think the meetings would bring positive results," Mediterranean Region Board member Nihal Bengisu Karaca said. Blacksea Region Board President Yusuf Sevki Hakyemez stated that those who protested against the meetings were free to present their ideas, adding "I am sure we can agree on many issues." Central Anatolia Region Board's Ahmet Tasgetiren emphasized on the need of changing the perception about eastern part of Turkey, which was identified with terror, in the minds of the people in the western part. Tasgetiren said they wanted to meet the opposition party's (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu to share their activities and observations in the region but CHP did not agree to meet. "People from every segment of the society think that the actor who would convince the terrorist organization to leave arms is the leader of the organization" Aegean Region Board member Fadime Ozkan said. Marmara Region Board President Deniz Ulke Aribogan stated that a culture of consultation had been formed thanks to the meetings. -"Turkey is carrying out a big project"- Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay also participated Editor's desk via video conference from Istanbul. Atalay thanked AA which hosted the presidents and the members of wise people delegation. "Anadolu Agency is the only official news agency and we celebrated AA's establishment anniversary the previous month. Today AA is both evaluating the works of wise people delegation and receiving their opinions. Turkey is carrying out a big project. We are using every means available to solve the most chronic and rooted problem of Turkey. This is a work to terminate terror, improve brotherhood and provide every region of our country with peace" said Atalay. Wise people and civil society organizations are carrying out works as different mechanisms and civil eyes between the state and citizens and this mechanism is very important to us, Atalay added. Atalay said protests and provocations in several regions upset them. "Those who try to prevent wise people's meetings with the citizens instead of sharing their opinions are very judgmental and what they are doing is wrong. However, we know who those people are. They are organized and unfortunately several political grounds support them" he also added. -Criticism towards Turkish media- Criticising the way Turkish media organs present the activities of wise people, Atalay said " Wise people are conducting very productive works throughout several cities ofTurkey. Very successful,there is no problem. However instead of covering these, media highlights protests of small groups. Then it is perceived as if there were very big problems regarding the work of wise people." Atalay said that structures similar to wise men delegation could be very useful in Egypt and other countries. Upon the question of Kemal Ozturk whether they had a plan to carry the project to the Middle East, Atalay pointed out that the project has been applied in several countries in different version, but the one in Turkey was unique. Atalay further said: "In other countries they play more of a arbitration role between the sides in the negotiations. Ours is directed towards people, measuring their pulse, both identifying and communicating their views, more comprehensive. In other countries their number is much less" and added "People-oriented dimension (of the project) could be used for other Muslim countries or Middle Eastern countries successfully. In many places disconnection is between state and citizen in terms of lack of successful dialogue or lack of identifying the citizens' opinion rightfully. I think that particularly Egypt and other countries passing through this process, this format could be modified to take the shape of that country, and can be very productive." Atalay said that an evaluative meeting of one-month activity of wise men delegation will be held on May 9th, and added "After that, the group will continue their task for another month. At the end of this two-month tenure, their work will be gathered as a report. However I am sure that we will benefit the wise men delegation in the forthcoming stages." -Peace call from the hurt father- A couple named Rasit and Kudret Kizilkurt from the eastern province of Agri also attended the AA Editor's desk by video conference. "My two sons are against each other. One of them became a member of the outlawed terror organization PKK and my other son is a police officer. I am calling out to the officials for peace," said father Kizilkurt. -The Middle East follows wise people's activities carefully- In the meeting, AA Cairo Regional Manager Tevfik Ganem, briefed the participants about how the activities of wise men have been perceived and followed in the Middle East. Ganem mentioned that the work of wise people is closely followed, and evaluated by Middle Eastern intellectuals. Reminding the problems in the post-Arab Spring process, Ganem emphasized that the intellectuals have been taking a bright view of those group meetings in order to "cure" the problems. Ganem expressed that Al Azhar Univerity in Cairo also has a plan about forming a similar structure in order to solve the conflicts between Muslims and Christians.