COMPLETE TURKISH LIST OF ‘WISE PEOPLE’ TO HELP PEACE TALKS WITH KURDS

AFP – BIANET – MESOP  4.4.2013 –  : Turkey said Wednesday it has set up a consultative body of “wise people” to help shape public opinion on the latest peace process with Kurdish rebels.

The initiative — which involves an array of figures including popular actors and singers — follows a ceasefire call last month by jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan. The group of “well-respected people whose common ground is democracy and freedoms” is due to have its first meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc told reporters.

The 63-member group (See below) is being asked to inform people across Turkey about the budding peace process aimed at ending the outlawed PKK’s 29-year armed campaign for self-rule that has killed thousands of Turkish soldiers and Kurdish rebels. Among the “wise people” are journalists, academics, business people and rights activists, as well as some popular actors and singers. Pro-Kurdish lawmakers have repeatedly said a binding parliamentary committee was needed to oversee the fragile process, but Erdogan has rejected the idea.

Turkey’s “wise men” list – a group of 63 prominent journalists, authors, artists and NGO representatives aimed to contribute to the resolution of Turkey’s Kurdish problem – has been announced this morning. The list only included 12 women compared to 41 men. The list appointed a chairperson, interim chairperson and secretary for each region in Turkey.The list only included 12 women compared to 41 men. Only one woman was appointed as regional chair, 4 as interim chair and 2 as secretary.

Turkey’s “wise men” will be received by PM Erdoğan on Thursday evening at 6 pm local time in Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul.

TURKEY’S “WISE MEN” LIST

Mediterranean Region

1. Chair: Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu

2. Interim Chair: Lale Mansur

3. Secretary: Tarık Çelenk

4. Kadir İnanır

5. Nihal Bengisu Karaca

6. Şükrü Karatepe

7. Muhsin Kızılkaya

8. Öztürk Türkdoğan

9. Hüseyin Yayman

 

Eastern Anatolia Region

1. Chair: Can Paker

2. Interim Chair: Sibel Eraslan

3. Secretary: Ayhan Ogan

4. Mahmut Arslan

5. Abdurrahman Dilipak

6. İzzettin Doğan

7. Abdurrahman Kurt

8. Zübeyde Teker

9. Mehmet Uçum

 

Aegean Region

1. Chair: Tarhan Erdem

2. Interim Chair: Avni Özgürel

3. Secretary: Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ

4. Vedat Ahsen Coşar

5. Erol Ekici

6. Hilal Kaplan

7. Fuat Keyman

8. Fehmi Koru

9. Baskın Oran

Southeastern Anatolia Region

1. Chair: Yılmaz Ensaroğlu

2. Interim Chair: Kezban Hatemi

3. Secretary: Mehmet Emin Ekmen

4. Murat Belge

5. Fazıl Hüsnü Erdem

6. Yılmaz Erdoğan

7. Etyen Mahçupyan

8. Lami Özgen

9. Ahmet Faruk Ünsal

Central Anatolia Region

1. Chair: Ahmet Taşgetiren

2. Interim Chair: Beril Dedeoğlu

3. Secretary: Cemal Uşşak

4. Vahap Coşkun

5. Doğu Ergil

6. Erol Göka

7. Mustafa Kumlu

8. Fadime Özkan

9. Celalettin Can

Marmara Region

1. Chair: Deniz Ülke Arıboğan – 2. Interim Chair: Mithat Sancar – 3. Secretary: Levent Korkut – 4. Mustafa Armağan – 5. Ali Bayramoğlu – 6. Ahmet Gündoğdu 7. Hayrettin Karaman – 8. Hülya Koçyiğit – 9. Yücel Sayman

Black Sea Region –

1. Chair: Yusuf Şevki Hakyemez – 2. Interim Chair: Vedat Bilgin – 3. Secretary: Fatma Benli – 4. Şemsi Bayraktar – 5. Kürşat Bumin – 6. Oral Çalışlar – 7. Orhan Gencebay – 8. Yıldıray Oğur – 9. Bendevi Palandöken