Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş said they saw the recently launched process of dialogue with Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan significant and meaningful. “The initiation of Imralı talks has helped to overcome a significant psychological border and to remove an unnecessary taboo that has been blocking Turkey's development”, said Demirtaş and underlined that dialogue and negotiation were the only way to solve the Kurdish issue.
Referring to the “Integration Strategy” of the AKP government, Demirtaş noted that Paris killings and the recent operations targeting the leading commanders of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) in Kandil left a question mark over minds in Kandil and most probably in  Imralı. BDP co-chair remarked that the statements of government authorities strengthened the mistrust environment in the country.
Demirtaş pointed out that the current conditions of Mr. Öcalan weren't appropriate to conduct a healthy dialogue and negotiation as he has been denied opportunity to counsel his organization and circle.
BDP co-chair said they expected the government to make a judicial reform, to end political arrests, to release political prisoners and to take concrete steps to grant freedom of the press in order to ensure that the process of dialogue with the Kurdish leader can work out.
Demirtaş reminded that everyone in Turkey wanted a constitution to guarantee the basic rights and freedoms.
BDP co-chair noted that the solution of the Kurdish question will also contribute to ensure peace and stability in the Middle East region, adding that “Syrian Kurds will also pay regard to Mr. Öcalan's calls and gain confidence in the Turkish government should it come up with a solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey”.
BDP c0-chair remarked that the successful conclusion of the dialogue with the Kurdish leader would also contribute to the development of Turkey's relations with the European Union, and called on the EU and the European Parliament to support the process of talks in Imralı.