DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakirhan spoke about the current developments in Turkey at his party's faction meeting in Ankara on Wednesday. At the beginning of his speech, the Kurdish politician called for the release of Ahmet Özer, the CHP mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district, who was taken into custody this morning. Bakirhan continued:

‘In Turkey, we are confronted with a very dangerous understanding. When we talk about peace, some people immediately see it as a concession to the other side. Peace is neither a concession nor a compromise. On the contrary, peace is not a weakness, but rather a sign of courage and grace. We want peace to be talked about with great courage in this country. Peace is an agreement with a life partner. We all live together in this country. We live in the same houses, our children go to the same schools. The language, culture and identity of one one of us is not recognised. We are all supposed to fit into a single identity. We reject this, we say it is not right. Those who govern this country are well aware of this. We criticise the political mindset that portrays peace as a weakness. (...)

There has been a very important development in the last few days. Peace is being discussed in Turkey. Mr Abdullah Öcalan, who was not allowed to speak to his lawyers or his family for 44 months, has been allowed to meet with our Member of Parliament, Ömer Öcalan. This meeting has given rise to great hope not only among the Kurds but also among the other peoples of Turkey. The first message from this meeting was that the isolation continues. Therefore, I would like to appeal to the government once again: lift the isolation of Mr Öcalan, who is also seen as a partner in peace, as quickly as possible.

Mr Bahçeli said that Mr Öcalan should make an appeal. So, we say; lift the isolation, create the conditions for him to work freely. Mr Öcalan says, ‘I have the theoretical and practical power to bring this process from the basis of conflict and violence to a legal and political basis if the conditions are created.’ So he said, ‘I am ready if you are, I have the will, the strength, the conviction and the determination to do this.’ Those who govern this country know this better than we do. There is a historic opportunity. There is a historic call; let us take it.

The President held a faction meeting before us today, which we followed closely. So far, everyone has spoken, everyone has expressed their thoughts, and frankly, we wondered what Mr Erdoğan thought about this discussion. Today he has presented his thoughts. Yes, we are addressing Mr Erdoğan from here: you are facing an historic test. As the DEM party, we find your words today about peace and a solution to the Kurdish question important. As president, the responsibility for taking steps towards peace lies with you. You can use this responsibility. Take responsibility for peace and take a different approach, not one taken by the presidents before you. This problem has affected 42 prime ministers and 13 presidents, and it has not been solved. It is in your power to be the president who solves this issue.”

Turkish President and AKP leader Tayyip Erdoğan today once again used the term ‘my Kurdish brothers and sisters’ and at the same time announced a continuation of the attacks on the Kurdistan region in Iraq and the autonomous regions in northern and eastern Syria. Speaking at the AKP faction meeting, Erdoğan said that Turkey is not the republic of a particular person, faith or ethnicity: “This republic is both the republic of the Alevis and the Sunnis. It is the republic of the Kurds as well as the Turks.”

In response to the appeal by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli regarding Abdullah Öcalan, Erdoğan said: “Today we once again have a unique opportunity to solve chronic problems and strengthen our brotherhood. Mr Devlet is a leader who, with his attitude, his words, his policies and his courageous deeds, always sets a tone in history and points the way forward. (...) Our most important dialogue partner is our Kurdish brothers and sisters themselves. (...) As Mr Bahçeli said, it is a religious and political obligation for Turks and Kurds to love each other. We will heal the wounds of the past together.”

Erdoğan further stated that there would be no appeal to the PKK leadership in Qandil and that Turkey's attacks against the Federal Region of Kurdistan and North-East Syria would continue.