Demirtaþ: We need negotiations now
Demirtaþ: We need negotiations now
Speaking on RojTV on 23 January, the day before the suspension of the channel’s broadcasts by French Eutelsat satellite, BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) Co-chair Selahattin Demirtaþ said that “Kurds have a historical territory, a homeland which is the Kurdistan. Kurds have the right to speak on this territory, culture and economy. Using this right doesn’t conflict with the Ankara centered state’s dominance. This right could be shared together and it is called the law of autonomy.”
Remarking that the BDP considered negotiations as mechanisms that should be tried once again, Demirtaþ said that “The Kurdish people are the political power of the Middle East. Kurds are a people who can take a role in this process; they cannot reduce themselves to the conscience of another state and nation".
The BDP co-chair also made a call for "the formation and advancement of negotiation processes. We point out to [Kurdish leader] Öcalan as the main interlocutor for this issue because talking to the right person is of major importance as well as following a right purpose. The greatest mistake of the government - added the BDP chair - has been to consider negotiation as a mechanism to suppress and eliminate the interlocutor. Although we warned the government many times regarding the fact that negotiations should be healthy and trustable, they always tried to gain time and to get through 12 September referendum and elections".
The BDP executive also underlined that "As BDP, from the humanistic and political aspect, we are not in favour of a single bullet being shot. Despite all kinds of pressure against us, we will no doubt support favorable initiatives should negotiations be conducted".
But negotiation, he added "between sides is the most critical phase of the solution process. Basing on mutual trust, we shouldn’t lose trust among each others. We consider negotiations as mechanisms that should be tried once again, no matter what happens.
We have never displayed any nonethical stance regarding the Habur events. All we did was quite ethical and legal things that needed to be done. The responsibility belongs to all of us if that process didn’t end in a favorable result. There is a need for the re-formation of trust to enable the negotiation process start again".
Stressing one more the situation of total confinement the Kurdish leader is subjected to, Demirtaþ said that "We consider Abdullah Öcalan’s message to his brother last week as an active response to confinement. The touchy situation of him and in the Middle East means that no new meeting will be held in Imralý which is the main point of the blockage in negotiations. It is apparent that the way to negotiation hasn’t been opened there yet and the isolation and arrest policy continue. It seems that there is no solution seeking in Imralý and there won’t be any in the near future. Öcalan’s message should be read in this way.
This situation - he added - results Öcalan’s solitary confinement which in fact continues since 1999. The arrest of a political person, who has millions behind him, in a hole in a special prison, means isolation. He should be provided with freedom, security and proper health conditions, only then we can say that the isolation has ended. He reacted to the pressure policy by refusing to meet his brother.”
Remarking that the BDP considered negotiations as mechanisms that should be tried once again, Demirtaþ said that “The Kurdish people are the political power of the Middle East. Kurds are a people who can take a role in this process; they cannot reduce themselves to the conscience of another state and nation".
The BDP co-chair also made a call for "the formation and advancement of negotiation processes. We point out to [Kurdish leader] Öcalan as the main interlocutor for this issue because talking to the right person is of major importance as well as following a right purpose. The greatest mistake of the government - added the BDP chair - has been to consider negotiation as a mechanism to suppress and eliminate the interlocutor. Although we warned the government many times regarding the fact that negotiations should be healthy and trustable, they always tried to gain time and to get through 12 September referendum and elections".
The BDP executive also underlined that "As BDP, from the humanistic and political aspect, we are not in favour of a single bullet being shot. Despite all kinds of pressure against us, we will no doubt support favorable initiatives should negotiations be conducted".
But negotiation, he added "between sides is the most critical phase of the solution process. Basing on mutual trust, we shouldn’t lose trust among each others. We consider negotiations as mechanisms that should be tried once again, no matter what happens.
We have never displayed any nonethical stance regarding the Habur events. All we did was quite ethical and legal things that needed to be done. The responsibility belongs to all of us if that process didn’t end in a favorable result. There is a need for the re-formation of trust to enable the negotiation process start again".
Stressing one more the situation of total confinement the Kurdish leader is subjected to, Demirtaþ said that "We consider Abdullah Öcalan’s message to his brother last week as an active response to confinement. The touchy situation of him and in the Middle East means that no new meeting will be held in Imralý which is the main point of the blockage in negotiations. It is apparent that the way to negotiation hasn’t been opened there yet and the isolation and arrest policy continue. It seems that there is no solution seeking in Imralý and there won’t be any in the near future. Öcalan’s message should be read in this way.
This situation - he added - results Öcalan’s solitary confinement which in fact continues since 1999. The arrest of a political person, who has millions behind him, in a hole in a special prison, means isolation. He should be provided with freedom, security and proper health conditions, only then we can say that the isolation has ended. He reacted to the pressure policy by refusing to meet his brother.”
