Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his call for "one nation, one flag, one motherland and one state" yesterday in defiance of all criticism directed at him last week for increasing tensions in an already troubled Southeast with a similar remark.

We said, 'One nation, one flag, one motherland and one state.' Those who don't like this may go anywhere they like," he said in a speech at his party's parliamentary group meeting yesterday.
Erdoğan's strong remarks came just days after he drew the ire of many communities in Turkey, particularly Kurds, when he said those who are opposed to the idea of one nation and one state should leave Turkey, during a speech at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) local branch in the eastern province of Hakkari.

Many Kurdish political and business leaders regarded Erdoğan's speech as "racist" and demanded an apology. Rather than apologize, however, Erdoğan reiterated the same words yesterday.

"I've never uttered such an expression as 'love it or leave it.' This expression belongs to the Nationalist Movement Party [MHP]. I am against this expression. What is it I said? I said: 'We are all together in this country with all Turks, Kurds, Circassians, Georgians, Abkhazians and Bosnians. No ethnic group should deem itself superior to another. We have a higher identity: being citizens of the Republic of Turkey. We are for one nation, one flag, one motherland and one state. Is there anyone against this? Can anyone say he is against 'one nation'? If they don't like this, they may go anywhere they like. This is what I say," Erdoğan declared.

Erdoğan stressed he will stand by his remarks despite criticism. "People may criticize me. This is my opinion. This is the way I think. No one will be able to divide these 70 million people," he noted.

He also lashed out at opposition parties for trying to make it harder for the government to solve Turkey's problems.

"Let's speak frankly. Think for a moment. Have the opposition parties ever come up with a concrete proposal to solve any of the problems Turkey is faced with? Have they ever told us what we should do for these troubles? Absolutely not. They have no words to address to the whole of Turkey's 70 million people," he said.

Erdoğan went on to praise the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for contributing to Turkey's process of modernization and democratization since the moment it was first swept to power in 2002. He said his party managed to make Turkey focus on its EU bid despite the obstacles posed by opposition parties.

"I can say with great pride that the fate of our country has changed in the last six years. Turkey has prospered, developed and moved to a higher level since 2002. This is the success of our country. This is your success," he said. On the subject of Turkey's EU bid, the prime minister said the government will keep up efforts to reach the country's dream of full membership.

He also reiterated the government's determination to achieve victory in Turkey's eastern and southeastern provinces in the upcoming local elections, slated for March 29. There is fierce competition between the AK Party and the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) for control of city municipalities in the East and Southeast.

"Streets in eastern cities are filled with dirt. Our citizens will get rid of all this dirt on March 29. They [the DTP] say they are the representatives of the people residing in those cities. What kind of a representative are you? You make people live in dirt," he said.

The prime minister recalled the recent opening of a university in Hakkari, adding that the government will continue to do what is necessary to increase the level of education in the city.

"Twenty years ago it was a dream for Hakkari's residents to have a university in their city. They have one now. A professor with a Ph.D. from Oxford University was appointed as the rector of this university. This is a step toward ensuring unity in the country," he said.

Erdoğan says he is committed despite threats

Prime Minister Erdoğan also responded to criticism of his Southeast visit yesterday, saying he would remain committed to the country's problems "even if death threatens" him.

In reference to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) threats against him while he was touring Turkey's southeastern provinces, he said: "They say do not come here. But I will go there. … I don't care. We are committed even if death threatens us. Nobody has a right to restrict our lives, which were planned already as part of our destiny."

He mentioned that some southeastern provinces have never seen investments in their history except in the period of the AK Party government. Citing the example of the province of Hakkari, Erdoğan said YTL 124 million had been invested there just for education: "We built two hospitals there. Any child of this country can go to those hospitals, and nobody questions whether that person is Kurdish or Turkish. We are trying to open a path, but others try to block these paths. This is our difference."

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