HDP Co-President Selahattin Demirtaş who spoke to journalists in Amed on recent developments began his statement by wishing all Muslims a happy month of Ramadan.

Demirtaş said that they were open to coalition offers if their principles were accepted, and that they viewed KCK statements as contributions to the search for solution, democracy and peace in Turkey. HDP Co-President objected to the isolation of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan, and called on the state to end its current policy.

'SOCIETY ITSELF IS A COALITION'

Demirtaş emphasized the implications of the recent elections and said that people voted for a coalition after many years purposefully. Criticizing the attempts to portray a coalition government as chaos, Demirtaş said that society itself is a coalition, and posed the question of why the task of governing Turkey cannot be shared whereas life itself is being shared by different groups in Turkey. He stated that the two parties that received the most votes should form a coalition, and added that their doors were open to anyone who wanted to discuss this issue with them.

REACTION TO DAVUTOĞLU

In response to Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s claims that HDP is indirectly threatening AKP, Demirtaş said that aggressive pre-election discourses should be abandoned and falsely accusing HDP of such threats implies that AKP has not learned anything from election results. Demirtaş stated that they would support any efforts that would secure the peace process and the new constitution.

'KCK’S MOST NATURAL RIGHT'

With regards to KCK evaluations on HDP and coalition possibilities, Demirtaş stated that it was KCK’s most natural right to make such comments since it is an actor of the peace process in Turkey. He emphasized that HDP does not receive instructions from Kandil and makes its own decisions through the party’s executive councils and organs. He added that they value KCK statements because they are geared towards contributing to the search for peace and democracy in Turkey.

'WE ARE OPEN AS LONG AS OUR PRINCIPLES ARE ACCEPTED'

In response to the question whether HDP would form a coalition with AKP, Demirtaş recalled his earlier statements out ruling such possibilities and added that they would not run away from responsibilities if the President gave the task of forming a government to HDP. On the lack of any reference to the peace process among the 14 principles CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu recently declared, Demirtaş said that they would stand behind the negotiations no matter what policies other parties adopt.

'OTHER PROBLEMS MAY NOT BE SOLVED WITHOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE'

Demirtaş highlighted the importance of the negotiations and said that other problems may not be solved without the establishment of peace in Turkey. Demirtaş said that they are prepared to contribute to any effort that would strengthen the drafting of a new constitution, expand rights and freedom, and simultaneously ensure disarmament of the PKK. Demirtaş said that committees must go to İmralı and the observers committee should be formed at once. Demirtaş added that they would support an AKP-CHP coalition if core HDP principles were accepted by this coalition. Demirtaş recalled Beşir Atalay’s admittance of AKP mistakes regarding the current pause in negotiations, and called on the current government to reverse its policy of isolation.

'DELEGATIONS MUST GO TO IMRALI AT ONCE’

Demirtaş underlined the unlawful isolation on İmralı over the past three months and asked why AKP would freeze the negotiations at the dawn of ensuring disarmament and establishing peace. Demirtaş stated that delegations must go to İmralı at once and Turkey must make peace with its Kurdish citizens. He also called upon Davutoğlu to speak less and listen more because this would make working together with him much easier.

'AKP SUPPORTED ISIS ARMY OF RAPISTS'

Criticizing Turkey policies towards Rojava, HDP Co-President  said that AKP openly and undeniably supported ISIS to which it  provided both militaristic and logistic support, and was never upset at ISIS at its borders. Demirtaş stated that Kurds in Rojava are defending their lands and described the AKP discomfort at the recent PYD victory in Girê Spî as despicable. Demirtaş called on AKP to end its support to ISIS  army of rapists.

'THERE IS NEED FOR A CONSOLIDATED CEASEFIRE'

Demirtaş stated that there is urgent need for a consolidated ceasefire and an open peace process bringing in the parliament to the negotiations. Demirtaş emphasized the importance of Turkish society’s demand for peace, and said that every vote given to HDP was a vote given for peace and democracy. Demirtaş added that the drastic decrease in support to AKP is not a threat to but an opportunity for establishing peace.

'EVERYONE MUST PULL THEMSELVES TOGETHER'

With regards to the recent Hüda-Par attacks in Amed, Demirtaş said that dialogue was key for overcoming any disagreement or conflict. Demirtaş emphasized the DTK’s search for dialogue on this issue, and said that they were the first ones to condemn the murder of İhya-Der president in Amed. Demirtaş stated that they were blamed for the attacks anyhow, and such a discourse with false accusations would shut down channels of communication and dialogue. Demirtaş pointed out that even the police department confirmed that the Kurdish movement had nothing to do with the attack on İhya-Der, and called on everyone to pull themselves together if they would like to keep in dialogue with HDP. Demirtaş added that Hüda-Par supporters murder HDP members no matter where the attacks against Hüda-Par come from, and dubious forces that have figured this out are manipulating Hüda-Par supporters.

'WE WON’T LEAVE TURKEY OPTIONLESS'

On the possibility of early elections, Demirtaş said that the search for a coalition must start immediately and the debates on early elections are premature. Demirtaş emphasized that HDP would not leave Turkey optionless, and would do everything to contribute to the formation of a government that would not wage war but establish peace. HDP Co-President criticized several politicians’ recent attack on the peace process and said that society favors peace, not war and conflict.