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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The former deputy of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) says Turkey lost “its greatest opportunity for peace” in the country when Ankara started to propagate against the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) and opposed its invitations.Suat Kinklioglu, who also served as a member of AKP’s powerful leadership council, told Rudaw that both the AKP and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) bear the responsibility for the deadly tensions that currently exist in the country since the general elections last year.“Kurds are disappointed with both the government and the PKK. The solution was more talks. But unfortunately demonizing the HDP made Turkey lose the greatest opportunity for peace,” Kinklioglu said.“The only language that exists now is the language of violence and unfortunately the PKK seem to be interested in violence too,” added.The AKP has over the past months pushed the parliament to lift the immunity for lawmakers who are accused of terrorism charges, among others.If the AKP’s proposal goes through a referendum, which was unanimously approved by the opposition parties in the parliament except for the HDP, prosecuting MPs will be possible for charges that relate to “national security” and “national interests.”“I am worried. The president uses the Kurdish question as a means for his own political survival,” Kinklioglu said, referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts to secure the support of the opposition parties, which have historically been against Kurdish nationalist sentiments.Kinklioglu believes the presidential system in Turkey, where the president is granted larger political powers, will further destabilize the country.“It will not bring stability to Turkey. On the contrary it will divide it further. It will also lead to more unrest and isolation on the world stage,” he warned.