No meeting with HDP deputy without oath, says Erdo?an

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said on Jan. 29 that he would not meet with Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Leyla Zana unless she takes her oath in parliament.

"First, I have to say that she fundamentally has to take an oath. Unless she takes her oath in parliament, such acceptance [for a meeting] would not be mentioned. However, she said something by calling my aide. I mean, if she thinks about meeting over those subjects [Zana's demands on the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Öcalan], she does not need to come," Erdo?an said while speaking to reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul.

Erdo?an had said on Jan. 22 he would meet Zana.

"She [Zana] has such a demand. We discussed this [demand] at Be?tepe [the Presidential Palace in Ankara] with our friends. I said, 'I will evaluate this demand with my friends.' After this evaluation, my opinion is to accept this meeting," said Erdo?an.

Presidential spokesperson ?brahim Kal?n also said on Jan. 27 that efforts to set a date for the meeting were underway.
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