The HDP Imrali delegation will visit Abdullah Öcalan on Imrali Island before Newroz, when the Kurdish leader is expected to make a historic statement regarding the resolution process in Turkey.

While the Newroz statement of the Kurdish Leader is awaited, the HDP delegation is to visit him on Imrali Island before Newroz, Kurdish New Year, on 21 March. The delegation comprising HDP Parliamentary Group co-chairs Pervin Buldan and Idris Baluken, HDP deputy Sırrı Sureyya Önder, DTK co-chair Hatip Dicle and KJA activist Ceylan Bağrıyanık, last met Abdullah Öcalan on 13 March.

In the meantime, Öcalan’s statement to be read out at the Newroz rally in Amed is eagerly awaited as it comes at an important stage in the peace talks being transformed into formal negotiations in the resolution process.

According to information obtained from HDP sources, Öcalan is not expected to make a concrete call at Newroz as he called on the PKK recently to hold a congress to discuss laying down arms, provided that the government takes steps in line with the 10 articles for democratisation mentioned in the joint press conference of the government and the HDP.

HDP sources stress that the Monitoring Committe has not yet been formed and the Truth Commission has not been set up in parliament and add that: “As the legal assurance has not been forthcoming, Mr. Öcalan is not expected to make a concrete call on the PKK. However, we expect a statement going beyond the one that was read out at 2013 Newroz.”

In the meantime, HDP delegation member Sırrı Süreyya Önder said the day before regarding the content of Öcalan’s message that: “He told me that the previous ones were calls for peace, but that this one is to give a universal perspective that is all the more essential, that we all need a democratic republic and constitution. Öcalan said he will carry on the process in this character and profoundness of meaning”.

HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş said meanwhile that Öcalan’s Newroz message will not make a call for the PKK to hold a congress and added that: “We expect him to strongly reiterate the statements of intention that he has made up to now”.

On the other hand, the Monitoring Committee that the government vowed to set up with a legal enactment is expected to be formed and to visit Öcalan at Imralı following Newroz. HDP sources say the meeting will take place after Newroz, contrary to some press organs claiming that it would take place before Newroz.

The names to take part in the Monitoring Committee have not yet been announced, but the regional chairs of the wise persons delegation and some of its members are expected to be on the Committee.