December 14, 2009 Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke out against a court ban on Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP).

“Our position against the closure of the DTP is clear… We are against the closure of parties. We think individuals should be punished, not a (party) identity,” Erdogan stated in the interview with Reuters. He called the Parliament to hold a detail and thorough discussion over the DTP dissolution noting these issues are solvable. “We will overcome these problems as long as our nation is united and in solidarity,” Erdogan outlined.

As NEWS.am reported previously, Turkish Constitutional Court decided to dissolve Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP). President of Constitutional Court Hasim Kilic said that the reason is the DTP’s cooperation with Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), as well as a threat to Turkey’s territorial integrity. According to Kilic, DTP leader Ahmed Turk and his party fellows lost the right to be engaged in politics. Moreover, the state forfeits the property and other funds of the party.

L.A.