* Photo credit: Okan Özer / AA

People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Group Interim Presidents Pervin Buldan and Idris Baluken as well as HDP Istanbul deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder held a press conference in the parliament regarding Turkey’s resolution process with PKK. 

The statement also became a response to Vice PM Bülent Arınç’s words on  HDP “Don’t be under the shadow of Öcalan and Qandil Mountain [the mountain where PKK Headquarters are located]. You are a political party, be free as well as clarified on visits to Imralı Prison [where PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan is being held]. The statement also responded to allegations that HDP was behind the “street riots” in the southeastern provinces  on October 6 and 7.

Some of the highlights from the statement are as follows: 

Arınç’s statements

“Before all, the application we submitted to Justice Ministry is a sincere declaration of willingness to continue the role of our party towards a democratic resolution and peace.” 

Trips to Imralı 

“This is also a duty for our belief and responsibility on the resolution process.  Because the impeding of our trips to Imralı Prison [to meet PKK leader] will mean the ending of dialogue process and well create negative outcomes.”

Persistance for peace 

“However, our sincere and good-willed persistence is not adequately understood by the government and its officials.”

“The language of the government towards our party and delegation has   been the language of threat, intervention and non-resolution.” 

The language of non-resolution

“What needs to be done is to open up dialogue channels that have been blocked and take concrete steps without losing any more time regarding the transition to negotiations. [The government] must leave inclination and discourses that attempts to create a domination on our part and its delegation.”

Full democratic country

“Our contribution to the peace and full democratic country will continue with the same seriousness and responsibility as it did until this very day.”

Public order

“…[Certain authorities] are attempting to create the image that HDP is responsible behind the clashes and violence incidents. 

“It is a historical fact that, if a country’s people is under threat and limitation of its democratic rights, if their right demands are criminalized, there will neither be public or its order.”

A peace-based order

“Therefore, the only way for the restoration of public order and avoidance of clashes is the establishment of a peace-based democratic order.”

The frequency and nature of talks 

“What must be done in a moment of stalemate, on the contrary of putting a blockage, is to deepen the frequency, depth and inclusion of the talks with the involvement of all democratic institutions.”

The process of non-violence 

“This is the goal of the peace process and we need dialogue and negotiations in the most conflicting days.”

Öcalan’s role 

“The government officials must avoid reducing this matter to the talks with Imralı Island [PKK leader]. What is in essence is to restoration of conditions where Öcalan’s historical role could be conducted.”

The continuation of process 

“We would like to state we have the impression that a willingness has come  out regarding the continuation of the interrupted dialogue process after a series of talks with officials who take part in the Resolution Committee.”

“We are behind our willingness for peace"

We would like to insist that we are behind our willingness for peace in the light of

* Development of a language by parties to contribute to the resolution process instead of a language of conflict,

* Avoidance of artificial agendas through talks with İmralı,

* Ending of government officials to put the delegation and Imralı talks in question in every instance of a stalemate,

* Remembering of mutual role towards history. (AS/BM)

* Click here to read the full statement in Turkish.