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Yesterday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the protesters "terrorists." Is there any evidence that Kurdish organizations are standing behind them?

No, it is just the opposite. Currently, the Turkish government is in contact with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in order to reach a dialogue to lead to pacification in turn.

The major concern is that so far, a very large part of the participants in this movement do not want an agreement on this issue to be reached. They are either nationalists or old Kemalists who are against the government in general and who fear that such an agreement will be equal to national treason.

Others argue the opposite: that those who go out into the streets are putting at risk the process of pacification. At the beginning of the events, the Kurds were quite reserved and some leaders made quite unsuccessful statements. As far as I know, they already support the movement and they had even organized a large meeting in Diyarbakir a large meeting in support of the movement in Istanbul.

However, this is not the point. Many leaders in various countries, including Greece, perceive similar dynamic responses as a disagreement within a democratic regime. According to them, it should be expressed through elections and in parliament. Activism is not considered as a legitimate activity of citizens. This is a very important element because, actually, activism is not based on majorities. This thesis exists in many countries but it is stronger in Turkey.

How do you assess the call of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan on suspending the armed actions? How do you think the Kurdish issue will develop?

It was the result of negotiations that lasted for a long period of time. Ocalan is still the leader of the great majority among the Kurds. I think this was a very smart move by Erdogan or by the people around him. Otherwise, the problem would not have been resolved.

However, my personal opinion is that this was a political move too. Erdogan intends to run for president of the Republic of Turkey and believes that if he attracts the Kurds and receives the ovations for solving the Kurdish issue, this will help him a lot to be able to assume the presidency. That is why he is scared of the events because they may jeopardize the whole process of pacification.

What I have just said is an assessment that is supported by all analysts in Turkey. The only thing that bothers me in the whole story is that it is controlled "from above". That is to say, that the commissions of "wise men" had already been formed and they toured throughout Turkey to talk with the people and listen to their concerns. This is important, of course, because those people come from the media, arts, from the intelligentsia in general. On the other hand, they are like ‘tools’ who have been sent to fulfil a specific mission, which seems odd and out of place in the eyes of many people here. Somehow, people with a different ideology have suddenly found the need for solving the Kurdish issue peacefully and there is something false in this situation.

Until the outbreak of the protests, this process was developing well. We will see how it will continue, but personally, I hope that it will be completed successfully. I fully support these actions but I just cannot but mention the presence of a political manoeuvre.

How do you think the developments related to the protests will evolve and how will they end up?

The protesters have four demands. The first is the cancellation of the plans to build a shopping centre. The second is the release of the captured protesters. The third is for the government to apologize and the fourth is related to today's World Environment Day. Last year, the competent parliamentary commission approved a law that should have been discussed in parliament today. It provides for the protection of the environment and natural diversity. According to many commentators, this law actually allows massive construction in different areas and their use for commercial purposes in general.

If these demands are satisfied and the core of the blockade in the park does not insist on its completely pointless demand for the resignation of the government, especially the Kemalists and some leftist persons such as the Communists, whose call is for the government to resign, this is just pointless and inappropriate.

If the other demands are met and the majority is convinced that the protest has been successful, it could end in a few days. Nevertheless, it will not end tomorrow or the next day, it could even continue for another 10 days because the movement is still dynamic and the people are not tired. The people are very excited, they are doing different things and will not leave them unfinished.

How would you comment on the opinion that a more conservative Islam is being imposed in Turkey?

This is not a Turkish phenomenon - it exists around the world. This process has been ongoing over the past few years and it has been expressed in different ways in different countries.

It is connected with the revival of some basic values ​​such as family and religion. In a sense, it is like experiencing the 1980s again but as a farce.