ANKARA
Turkish Deputy PM Bulent Arinc said Monday that not all deputies from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democracy Party are sincere in their wishes for the success of the “solution process.”
The “solution process” officially began in 2013 in an effort to bring an end to the decades-old conflict with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which is listed by Turkey, U.S. and the European Union as a terrorist organization.
"We know that there are some HDP deputies who are working sincerely and making good efforts to move the solution process forward," Arinc said, adding that Selahattin Demirtas, co-chairman of HDP, was not among them.
Arinc said the government is determined to make the “solution process” succeed and added that "HDP is our partner in this process and we wish to work in harmony with them."
He reiterated that PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan had called for an end to armed militancy in 2013.
"We can say there is a two-year delay in the solution process because, they (PKK), did not lay down arms during this period," Arinc said during a press conference held after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara. "Yes, there have been no terror incidents and deaths, but there have been some other events disturbing peace and public order."
Arinc's remarks came following recent significant progress in the "solution process."
Ocalan had called on the outlawed group to hold a congress in spring 2015 to make a historic decision on the issue of laying down arms.
The call for disarmament was announced Saturday by Sirri Sureyya Onder, an HDP lawmaker.
HDP lawmakers and government officials, including Deputy PM Yalcin Akdogan, had met at the Prime Ministry office in Istanbul.
"Our biggest desire is to bring an end to terrorism," Arinc said. "We are aware that we are very close to the end, unless there are efforts by some circles to create new obstacles."
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