10.10.2014 Ankara
In regards to the saddening developments of the last few days throughout the country, non-governmental organizations have issued a message urging common sense. The EU-Turkey Joint Arbitration Committee (KİK) Turkey Member Civil Society Organizations; Presidents and Directors of Hak-İş, Kamu-Sen, Memur-Sen, TZOB, TİSK, TESK, Türk-İş and TOBB convened at the TOBB Twin Towers to hold a joint press meeting. The joint declaration as read by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu is as follows:
“First of all, we pray for the grace of Allah upon the two security
officers who lost their lives during the heinous attack in Bingöl and extend
our wishes for speedy recovery for the wounded. We vehemently condemn this
heinous attack.
As TESK, TÜRK-İŞ, Türkiye KAMU-SEN, MEMUR-SEN, HAK-İŞ, TİSK, TZOB and
TOBB, we have convened to discuss the recent events. We are the workers, public
servants, artisans, farmers and entrepreneurs of Turkey. We all work to live
and work in peace and to contribute to the growth of our country. We have
members of all points of view, creeds and ethnic groups. Our shared dream is to
leave a stronger, more prosperous Turkey to our children.
We are against all illegal and violent acts against our government,
nation and democratic, secular, social structure. We vehemently condemn the
violent activities taking place in various cities which present events taking
place outside our borders as excuse. Vandalism and banditry cannot be excused
or viewed to be in the right in any eventuality; these cannot be a method for
seeking one’s rights.
Problems and demands should be expressed via democratic channels –not
through street barbarity. Street terror not only damages the stability and
peace of our country but also negatively impacts the economy. Especially in the
Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions, the recently revitalized investments
into these regions will suffer. The worst effected by this will be the regions’
people and our country. Peace and stability are prerequisites of everyone being
able to focus on their own business. The path to a more prosperous and peaceful
state for our nation is through this.
We all remember all too well the dark days wherein attempts to turn our
diversity into difference were made. It is very evident that there are those
who wish to initiate strife among brothers in our country, to disrupt our unity
and solidarity.
We will state this clearly: We must eliminate these heinous attempts as
a nation!
In order to bring peace to our cities, it is the duty of each and every
one of us to preserve Turkey’s unity and solidarity from all conflict.
Especially in order to protect the peace process which is of the utmost
importance for our country, we must act with responsibility and prudence. In
the face of this ruse in play in our country, we urge all parts of our society
to be patient, responsible and prudent.
We must recognize the amount of energy wasted in conflict and continue
to work towards our shared future for Turkey. Descendants of a millennia old
civilization, this nation has the power and conviction to overcome these ploys.
This country has contributed in all aspects to the peace of the whole region
and will continue to do so.
Together, we will all go forward unto better days. Seventy-six million
should embrace each other on this path. REMEMBER, THIS COUNTRY BELONGS TO US
ALL.”