Speaking at a public meeting at the Kurdish Cultural Association in Zurich, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş made significant statements on the ongoing process of talks with the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, in Imralı prison.

Demirtaş criticized AKP government's and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's approach towards dialogue and negotiations between the Turkish state and Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and noted that the PM wanted to represent both the state and the Kurds at the negotiation table.

BDP co-chair remarked that a political delegation and co-chairs of the BDP should also pay a visit to the Imralı prison to ensure a progress in the ongoing process of talks and added; “It is of major importance for the leading powers and politicians of the Kurdish people to take part in talks in order to accomplish a favorable result from the process”.

Demirtaş noted that the process of talks with the Kurdish leader was a consequence of the prices the Kurdish people have paid so far, and said “It is Mr. Öcalan who has initiated the process of talks, it is the resistance of Kurdish youths who lost their life in clashes and it is the mass hunger strike of political prisoners that have forced the government to seek a solution together with Kurds as they understood that no reformation and no solution could take place in the Middle East without Kurds”.

Demirtaş pointed out that Kurds have achieved to create a national consciousness and unity in four parts of Kurdistan and added “The Kurdish people who have paid heavy prices up to today are close to victory now. The people in southern and western Kurdistan have attained the power for self-governance, and the people of northern Kurdistan have been displaying resistance by voicing their commitment to their leader and to the Kurdish struggle.”

BDP co-chair ended his speech by calling on all oppressed circles to unite and to enhance struggle against fascistic impositions.