Ankara (AA) - Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc received a delegation of Taksim Platform, a solidarity group formed to oppose the planned demolition of Gezi Park in Taksim at the Prime Ministry in capital Ankara on Wednesday.
Chairman of the Chambers of Architects Eyup Mumcu following the closed meeting said "We are in a self sacrifising struggle as sensitive citizens. We will continue the protests in democratic and peaceful ways and these efforts will be shaped in accordance with the steps the government will take."
Mumcu criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements saying violence, oppression and prohibitive implementations still continued although they put forward their demands in a democratic way.
Mumcu said the delegation handed in a document voicing the democratic demands and expectations about accumulated problems to Deputy PM Arinc.
"The steps to be taken by the government will swing the balance about how the social reactions will continue from now on. In the meeting Arinc made similar remarks to the ones he did yesterday," said Mumcu.
Mumcu also criticized a possible referendum on the Taksim plans, saying "It is out of the question to hold a referendum. The government should take into consideration local concerns when making plans."
Another representative of Taksim Platform Tayfur Kahraman called on the the government to make an official statement saying the park will stay as it is and a replica Ottoman era barracks will not be built in the park. Kahraman also said the government must halt the demolition of Ataturk Culture Center in Taksim Square.
