Speaking on Nuçe TV on Thursday evening, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) group deputy co-chair Pervin Buldan evaluated recent developments in the ongoing process of talks for a solution to the Kurdish question.

Referring to the publishing of notes of the most recent Imralı meeting, between the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and BDP delegation consisting of Pervin Buldan, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Altan Tan, by Milliyet daily on 28 February, Buldan said that this leakage aimed at sabotaging the current historic process of talks, just like the leakeage of Oslo talks to the press, as well as the execution of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez in Paris on 9 January.

Buldan noted that during the meeting in Imralı prison, the Kurdish leader pointed out that everyone should act with sensitivity and show support for the attempts to find a solution to the Kurdish question. "Among the letters written by Mr. Öcalan, one has been sent to Kandil, one to Europe and one to BDP and HDK (People's Democratic Congress) which is made up of young people, women, intellectuals, artists, authors and leftist circles. This is because Mr. Öcalan says this process should be progressed with the contribution of all circles, not by him himself alone".

Buldan said that Öcalan wanted BDP and HDK, as well as two other addresses, Kandil and Europe, to write a critical reply letter to him after debating the draft he sent. Buldan said that Öcalan expects the critical replies by 14-15 March. After that, he will examine them and "the draft he has sent - she added - will become a full text following the presentation of critics and proposals by the three addresses. The negotiation process, which has yet not begun, may begin after the finalization of Öcalan's draft. Buldan also stressed that the Kurdish leader has conveyed his intention to call on the PKK to declare a ceasefire for Newroz, the Kurdish new year, 21 March.

Buldan also said that at this stage it is very important for the Turkish government to show its genuine comittment to this new phase. The bombing of Kurdish areas by the Turkish army is indeed going on. "Clearly - she said - there is a problem of trust. It is therefore important for confidence building measures to be set in motion. This - she added - would mean for the AKP not simply to answer positively to the new phase but actually to take confidence building steps. For example - she said - in the areas of Constitution, prisoners, elections threshold". The BDP deputy also stressed that Öcalan has said that without confidence building steps by the government the process will clearly slow down and get more complicated.

Buldan noted that the letters had already been sent to two addresses before the visit of BDP executives. BDP co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Gültan Kışanak as well as Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chairs Ahmet Türk and Aysel Tuğluk, BDP deputies Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Altan Tan went to Sulaimaniya in Federal Kurdistan Region on 27 Feb. night, while Pervin Buldan flew to Brussels on the 28th. Buldan remarked that during her visit to Brussels and BDP-DTK delegation's visit to Sulaimaniya, and then to Kandil, BDP executives would hold talks with relevant circles about the letter Öcalan has sent.

"Mr. Öcalan sides with Turkey's democratization and the ending of the conflict environment and bloodshed but he wants to achieve this purpose on the basis of the decision and support of all circles", she noted.

Buldan said it is also important what attitude the Prime Minister will display and what statements he will make concerning the process.