Lekue: Peace should hinge upon justice
Lekue: Peace should hinge upon justice
The "Role of Leaders in Solution and Negotiation Processes" symposium by Freedom for Öcalan for Peace Platform has started in Istanbul on Sunday. The speakers at the symposium emphasized jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan should be provided with favorable conditions in the process of negotiations on the way to peace.
Speaking about the Basque peace process at World Experiences, Role of People's Leaders session, Jon Andoni Lekue of the Basque Abertzale Left said that Peace doesn't only mean the ending of the armed struggle, it must hinge upon justice. Lekue pointed out that We aim to realize the democratic will of the Basque people and to ensure peace.
Remarking that Spain and France haven't answered to the call of international leaders yet, nor changed their policies against the Basque country where the armed struggle has ended but police harassment and abuse of basic human rights, as well as clashes, still continue , Lekue added ; A negotiation process should be started among all political parties and it should progress in a democratic way to grant the Basque people the right to national self-determination. Basque prisoners should be released and a non-conflict environment should be ensured.
Lekue underlined that; The ongoing imprisonment of Arnaldo Otegi reveals the attitude the Spanish state has adopted in this historic process. Still, we insist on peace.
Lawyer and peace negotiator Brian Currin, who took part in the negotiation process in South Africa, put emphasis on the role of people's leaders in peace processes and underlined; It is political leaders who decide on either peace or war, and the future of a nation.
Speaking after, Prof. Mithat Sancar pointed out that negotiations in Turkey will not progress easily as long as Kurdish leader Öcalan is held in solitary confinement. The only way to negotiations, and then to peace, is to provide proper conditions for Öcalan whom the Kurdish people have declared as their leader. He is the most important interlocutor for a solution to the Kurdish problem which is an issue affecting both regional and global balances.
Pointing out that the government and all other authorities should use a constructive language to ensure mutual trust between both sides involved in talks, Sancar noted both the Kurdish and the Turkish side should display a strong will to make sure that the ongoing process will not be undermined by any problems.
The symposium continues with the session Overcoming the deadlock in the Kurdish question, the freedom struggle of Kurds.
Speaking about the Basque peace process at World Experiences, Role of People's Leaders session, Jon Andoni Lekue of the Basque Abertzale Left said that Peace doesn't only mean the ending of the armed struggle, it must hinge upon justice. Lekue pointed out that We aim to realize the democratic will of the Basque people and to ensure peace.
Remarking that Spain and France haven't answered to the call of international leaders yet, nor changed their policies against the Basque country where the armed struggle has ended but police harassment and abuse of basic human rights, as well as clashes, still continue , Lekue added ; A negotiation process should be started among all political parties and it should progress in a democratic way to grant the Basque people the right to national self-determination. Basque prisoners should be released and a non-conflict environment should be ensured.
Lekue underlined that; The ongoing imprisonment of Arnaldo Otegi reveals the attitude the Spanish state has adopted in this historic process. Still, we insist on peace.
Lawyer and peace negotiator Brian Currin, who took part in the negotiation process in South Africa, put emphasis on the role of people's leaders in peace processes and underlined; It is political leaders who decide on either peace or war, and the future of a nation.
Speaking after, Prof. Mithat Sancar pointed out that negotiations in Turkey will not progress easily as long as Kurdish leader Öcalan is held in solitary confinement. The only way to negotiations, and then to peace, is to provide proper conditions for Öcalan whom the Kurdish people have declared as their leader. He is the most important interlocutor for a solution to the Kurdish problem which is an issue affecting both regional and global balances.
Pointing out that the government and all other authorities should use a constructive language to ensure mutual trust between both sides involved in talks, Sancar noted both the Kurdish and the Turkish side should display a strong will to make sure that the ongoing process will not be undermined by any problems.
The symposium continues with the session Overcoming the deadlock in the Kurdish question, the freedom struggle of Kurds.
