Öcalan: Process Must Evolve From Dialogue to Negotiations

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies Buldan and Demirtaş set off to Imrali Island yesterday to meet PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The visiting delegation released a press statement after the meeting, saying that Öcalan urged the parties to transition from dialogue to negotiations in the peace process. The visit to Imrali Island marked the first meeting with Öcalan after PKK’s declaration to suspend their withdrawal. Öcalan released the following message through the delegation:

“We have started the dialogue process a year ago. Now I think that it is necessary to evolve the dialogue process into a new format of negotiations in order to make it deeper. I have laid out all the necessary means and abilities for a deeply negotiation in front of both to the [Turkish] state and Qandil. It is especially essential for the [Turkish] state to create the necessary means and abilities for a deeply negotiation in order to continue the process. Departing from the fact that the stalemate on the resolution will only be opened though this way, I am hoping that the [Turkish] government will also take it seriously.

“I would also like to remark that I give a value on the continuation of ceasefire. We all know that the process is of high meaning. However, we also know how challenging. If we can remove these obstacles through my recommendations and opinions, we can evolve to a new format, we can move on with a deep-level negotiation process.

“I am sending my best wishes to everybody along with my passion towards freedom, democracy and peace.” (ÇT/BM)

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.