DTK visit Kurdish parties and groups

ANF, Diyarbakır/Amed 07.03.2013 – Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chairs Ahmet Türk and Aysel Tuğluk are paying visits to Kurdish groups and political parties in Diyarbakır on Thursday to exchange opinions about the ongoing talks between the Turkish state and jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan.

Speaking during the visit to Revolutionary Democrat Kurdish Association (DDKD), Ahmet Türk said that they evaluated the current process as a phase in which relations between the Turkish and Kurdish peoples are being re-established. “We know it is a difficult work to establish peace but it is now known and seen by everyone that neither Turkey nor the Middle East will gain stability unless the Kurdish problem is solved”.

Remarking that the Imralı process should be seen as a way to unite the Kurdish and Turkish people on a democratic ground, Türk said that; “The Kurdish people who have mostly been deceived so far while asking for peace and solution will still take a determined stance to ensure a just peace in the current process. We have concerns but we need to speak, debate and find common grounds to support this process”.

Noting that Öcalan wanted all Kurdish parties to express their opinions on the ongoing process, Türk said that; “We need to carry out a wider work in this respect. Besides our meeting with Kurdish fighters in Kandil, we have also tried to develop joint statements and opinions with almost all political parties in Kurdistan. All circles that we have met so far agree that Kurds should welcome the process in a unity and put forward their demands so that there will be no obstacles to a solution and peace”. Türk noted that the CHP (Republican People’s Party) should also support the process and the brotherhood of peoples. Asked about the expected release of prisoners by the PKK, Türk said that the liberation of prisoners will be enabled by a delegation formed by DTK, BDP, MAZLUMDER and Human Rights Association (IHD) members within a week.