Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş pointed out that the Kurdish people now "want to see concrete policy changes. We want to see it with our eyes; it is not enough to hear it with our ears". Speaking at the party congress in Batman Demirtaş said: “Authorities in Ankara say they want to come up with a solution to the Kurdish question through negotiations but the repression on the Kurdish people still continue in the Kurdish region, and in the courts. This fascist-type repression of the Kurdish people and their party needs to be removed as the first step to be taken to ensure reliability in the process of talks with Mr. Öcalan”, said Demirtaş and noted that they had complete confidence in Mr. Öcalan and the talks he has launched.
Referring to the circles that claim the BDP, Kandil and Europe think differently on Imralı talks, BDP co-chair underlined that “Those who put forward this allegation do not know the Kurdish people and the Kurdish movement at all”.
Demirtaş warned that it would be dangerous to extend the process of talks over a period of time because "It’s an open invitation for provocations" and added that talks should continue and a visit of a second political delegation to Imralı allowed as well as regular visits.
The BDP co-chair underlined that all BDP deputies were well-appointed and authorized to visit Imralı, and added that they expected the BDP, DTK (Democratic Society Congress) and other Kurdish institutions to be seen as an interlocutor in the negotiations for a solution to the Kurdish problem.
“I believe we will be witnessing new developments on the issue in the coming days as we will send a second political delegation of BDP deputies to Imralı and share Mr. Öcalan's call with the Kurdish people if he has any”, Demirtaş added.