In an interview with ANF regarding the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) decision to dissolve itself and the steps the Turkish state must take, Mehmet Emin Kılıç, co-chair of the Association for Solidarity, Unity and Culture with Families Who Lost Their Relatives in the Cradle of Civilizations (MEBYA-DER), said that the state’s failure to embrace the process, unlike the Kurdish side, following Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace reveals the root cause of the ongoing war.

Kılıç emphasized that "the Kurds and the Kurdish Freedom Movement have never been the ones to choose war," adding that this must be understood as a response born out of necessity.

The Kurdish people are embracing the process with seriousness

Mehmet Emin Kılıç underlined that, despite being subjected to injustice and attacks, the Kurdish people continue to insist on peace and are embracing the peace process with genuine seriousness. He continued: "This opportunity must be seized. There is no end to war. It must be understood that war offers no solution, and that dialogue is the only path forward. By failing to respond to the call for peace, Turkey is assuming a great responsibility. There are forces that do not want this process to move forward. The state must take meaningful steps to prevent the process from being derailed. If courageous steps are not taken, we may lose this historic opportunity."

The state must take concrete steps without delay

Kılıç stated that for the peace process to move forward in a positive and stable way, the state must take concrete steps without further delay. He said: "Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan declared his support for peace back in 1993. Today, he stands in the same place and continues to call for peace. If the state had responded to Mr. Öcalan’s call at that time, we would not have lost so many lives.

In order to preserve this process, those in power must act immediately. The Kurdish people have embraced this process with seriousness and responded to Mr. Öcalan’s call by taking brave steps. Despite being under attack, the PKK made its decision with sincerity and courage. What is the state still waiting for?"