Selim Sadak a prominent politician from southeastern Turkey says if the Kurdish independent deputies enter the Parliament in the July 22 elections they will not act like militants and use slogans but they will contribute to the development of democracy in Turkey.

Sadak speaking to The New Anatolian in an exclusive interview said the Kurdish deputies will also speak up for the rights of Turkmens living in northern Iraq.

Sadak who was one of the four deputies to be sent behind bars for ten years after being kicked out of the Parliament in 1994 for their alleged affiliations with the PKK said fears that the Kurdish deputies will again turn into militants in the newly elected Parliament are unfounded.

"If we (the former Kurdish deputies) are elected to the new Parliament we will work for the well being of the country and we will not act like militants and use slogans. Times have changed. We did what we had to do in the past. Now things have changed in Turkey. We should put the past behind us. The Turkish society is going through a sensitive period. Every thing is now interrelated. In the past there was a huge ocean between Turkey and the United States. Now they are neighbors. We are all obliged to act with maturity to satisfy the needs of the people and meet the requirements of Turkey. We have the people to do this among the Kurdish politicians. We too have matured. Kurds have learnt the art of politics. We know well the problems of Turkey and international community. We know what the world needs and what Turkey needs. We do not have people among us who will act like militants in Parliament and chant slogans. We want to solve the Kurdish question within the unitary structure of Turkey."

Sadak said he and his colleagues see the Kurdish issue as a basic problem in Turkey along with the education problem, the health problem, the Cyprus problem and the obstacles being experienced in the accession to the European Union.

He said the violence that has gripped southeastern Turkey for nearly two decades has politicized the Kurds of southeastern Turkey more than the people living in the Western parts of the country.

"The Kurds want to live in their own country which is Turkey as all othjer citizens do. I speak at various rallies in southeastern Turkey and when I tell the crowds that I am a part of Trabzon, Tekirdag, Istanbul and Eskisehir I get massive applause."

Sadak said he is hopeful about Turkey's democratic development. "In ten to 15 years time when a young man speaks up in the Kizilay Square (in central Ankara) saying he wants an independent Kurdish state no one will do anything and just tell him if you have the ability to do this then feel free to try…"

Sadak said he feels Turkey will undergo a democratic transformation and will mature so much so that it will further unite. "This will not cerate disunity as some people fear today."

He said the attitude of the authorities are pushing the country towards polarization. He said while the deputies in Parliament could not agree on many constitutional amendments they managed to bring together 430 votes when it came to approving a constitutional amendment which was designed to block the election of Kurdish independent deputies. "The authorities are still debating whether the former Kurdish deputies who served prison sentences can run for the parliament. There are no legal obstacles but they are trying to create hurdles. These are double standards,"

Sadak stressed that the laws are not applied to everyone equally. "Look at the case of the Cizre mayor (of Kurdish origin) who is in prison awaiting trial on charges that may bring him a two year jail term form making a speech. This man came to office winning 67 percent of the votes. They put him in jail, pending his trial which will take place today in Diyarbakir. Then there is the former Minister Koray Aydin who is at court facing a 146 year jail term but he has not been put in prison pending his trial. Is this equality?"

Sadak said the Kurdish deputies if they are elected to Parliament on July 22 will strive to uphold democratic values and be the representative of all the citizens and not only the people of southeastern Turkey. "We will try to uphold social democrat ideals."

He said Turkey ahs to become a member of the EU. "Turkey also has to have a say in the Middle East peace process. But to do this Turkey has to overcome all the obstacles in its democratization process. It has to do this to be able to be a country that gives lessons to others instead of others preaching it."

He said this can only be done by solving the Kurdish issue "in a way that will not harm the countries unity and solidarity." "The Kurds have paid a very high price during the Liberation movement in Turkey. They paid a high price during the founding of the Republic. The Kurds are prepared to pay a high for the democratization of Turkey."

He said all democrats in Turkey have to make a good effort to achieve the democratic transformation. "You cannot run this country with memorandums. If you try to curb freedom of expression you will only push Turkey into isolation."

Sadak said if Turkey manages its democratic transformation it will be the source of attraction of the Kurds in Iraq, in Syria and in Iran. He said this means the Kurds should be allowed to enhance their identity within the unity of Turkey. "But if Turkey fails to do this in the future then unfortunately Europe and northern Iraq could emerge as the source of attraction for the Kurds."

Asked of the Iraqi Kurdish leaders have any weight in Turkey's domestic Kurdish politics Sadak said 'no, I don't think so." He stressed that despite all negative trends Kurds can still undertake political activity freely in Turkey.

He said Turkey should help build the infrastructure and super structure of northern Iraq as well as helping the Kurds to establish their own democratic structures. "Turkey has to contribute to the democratization process in northern Iraq."

Sadak said if he and his colleagues enter the Parliament they wills peak up for the Turkmens in northern Iraq. "If the Turkmens are subjected to any injustices we will speak up for the. If they feel they are not properly represented in the Kurdish parliament and government we will speak up for them. The same applies for Kirkuk. Let us speak up for Turkey in Kirkuk. Let us criticize the Kurds if necessary."

Sadak, however, said the Turkmens should also avoid making statements that alienate and at times insult the Kurds.

Sadak said both the Kurdish and Turkish politicians have to avoid chauvinist statements.

Asked about PKK leader Abdukllah Ocalan's role in Turkish politics Sadak said the Kurdish militant chief "is offering solutions to the problems of Turjey whether we like it or not."

He said Ocalan is against radical religious ideology and nationalist chauvinism and adopts a social democrat view for the salvation of Turkey. "He has given up the idea of a united Kurdistan. This is a brave move. If anyone else agreed to his the people would not have listened to them. But they agreed to Ocalan."

Asked about the prospects of the Kurdish independents entering the Parliament Sadak said "we will enter the Parliament and we will set up a strong group."