A delegation composed of executives from HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party), DBP (Party of Democratic Regions), HDK (Peoples' Democratic Congress) and DTK (Democratic Society Congress) met executives of PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, YNK) in the party’s headquarters in Sulaimaniya city of South Kurdistan yesterday.

The delegation composed of HDP co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ, DBP co-chair Kamuran Yüksek, DTK co-chair Selma Irmak and HDK spokesperson Ertuğrul Kürkçü went to south Kurdistan for a series of talks which they commenced in Sulaimaniya with a meeting with PUK executives.

The delegation from Northern Kurdistan was welcomed by a large group including PUK Politburo members Hero İbrahim Ahmed, Ömer Fettah and Deputy Secretary General Mele Bahtiyar .

Following the meeting, HDP co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ and PUK Deputy Secretary General Mele Bahtiyar held a joint press conference.

Speaking first, Bahtiyar stressed that the Kurdish question needed be solved through democratic negotiations and called on the parties to return to negotiation table.

'ERDOĞAN WANTS TO HOLD AN ELECTION IN THE SHADOW OF WAR'

HDP co-chair Yüksekdağ stressed in her speech that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP wanted to hold a snap election in an anti-democratic environment and to achieve what they couldn’t achieve in the 7 June elections in the shadow of war and guns.

Answering the questions of journalists, Yüksekdağ said they tried to rise up the people's will for peace against the war imposed on them, adding; “I believe the peoples of Turkey and the Middle East can achieve peace on the basis of a common will. The meeting we held with PUK also focused on this basis. Against the illegitimate war of the Palace and the AKP, peoples will definitively join forces and achieve peace. Despite the fact that Erdoğan has de facto ended the peace process, we will achieve peace.”

'KURDISH ORGANISATIONS SHOULD ADOPT A JOINT ATTITUDE'

Answering a question of a journalist regarding the participation of some political parties in the AKP congress held on September 12, including PUK, Yüksekdağ said; “This is their own choice, and we wouldn't reach a conclusion by an assessment of Kurdish political powers over this issue alone. We are rather trying to make sure that all Kurdish parties unite and adopt a joint attitude over the Kurdish question and take a stance against attacks of the AKP. We believe all Kurdish organisations should undertake an active role for an urgent end to the attacks on Kurds in Northern Kurdistan.”

Answering another question, Yüksekdağ said they were not planning to pay a visit to Qandil due to a lack of security because of the ongoing aerial operations of the Turkish military against the guerrilla areas.

The delegation also met representatives from Goran Movement and Rojava Cantons Representative in Sulaimaniya and will go to Hewler (Erbil) today for a meeting with representatives of political parties and members of the regional parliament as well as the regional President.