DIYARBAKIR
"Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the architect of this day of peace," said Kurdish musician Sivan Perwer, who returned to Turkey upon invitation by Erdogan after living in exile for 37 years.
Perwer, who came to Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakir province together with the head of the autonomous Kurdish government in Iraq's north Masoud Barzani and singer Ibrahim Tatlises within the scope of Turkish government's "solution process" to end ethnic conflicts, gave a speech in both Turkish and Kurdish.
"We are grateful to everyone who made efforts to build this peace atmosphere", said Perwer, calling the day a "day of peace" engineered by Prime Minister Erdogan.
"No longer will the cultural differences be banned", said Perwer, stressing that bans and prohibitions were the reason why he fled Turkey.
"Some fell into decay in jails, some were exposed to torture, some left the country like me. I hope that all communities on this soil will lend each other their peaceful hands. These lands have been the stage for many historical moments and revolutions. Akkadians, Sumerians, Persians, Abbasids, Ottomans and many more than these have reigned in these lands."
Perwer said the current situation marked "a new era, a period of peace and democracy".
Ibrahim Tatlises, one of Turkey's most famous folk singers, also called the day "a peace festival".
"Whoever serves to peace, he is a good human being", said Tatlises, declaring that he will name his next son Baris, which translates as "peace".
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