ANKARA, Dec 26 (KUNA) -- Turkey brushed aside reports Sunday about demands by Kurds to have a self-rule in predominantly Kurdish southeastern areas.
Minister of state Egemen Bagis, in an interview with the Canal Seven, known for being close to the Turkish government, said the Kurds in Turkey were part of the "social fabric of the Turkish people ... Cultural diversity is enriching this fabric which should remain united." Bagis made the statement after the Democratic Society Conference, a local Kurdish organization, proposed launching a domestic dialogue to grant the Kurds an autonomous rule in southeast Turkey, as well as allowing them to use the Kurdish language in government institutions and teaching Kurdish in school as a second language.
Bagis said civilization and religious differences, and diverse cultural and political identities could co-exist inside Turkey.
He said the demands of the Democratic Society Conference aimed at causing political confusion.
He accused some parties inside the conference of trying to falsly show there was a division within the Turkish society.
Bagis asserted that the Turkish language would remain the sole official language, noting that the Kurds were only using the Turkish language in their daily lives.
The Turkish government launched an initiative early this year in a bid to address the 26-year-old Kurdish problem. The initiative includes granting Kurds cultural rights like recognizing their identity.
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has been fighting Turkey for a self-rule in the southeast since 1984. The conflict killed 45,000 people and costed Turkey billions of US dollars. (end) mm.bs KUNA 262250 Dec 10NNNN