EMEP Istanbul Deputy İskender Bayhan spoke to ANF about Abdullah Öcalan’s call, which, he said, marked a critical threshold.

“This video, released after so many years, may be seen as the first step towards Abdullah Öcalan's participation in politics in the coming period and the subsequent discussions on how the talks in Imralı will be managed from the Kurdish Political Movement's perspective,” Bayhan said, continuing, “If there are no setbacks regarding the approach outlined, it appears that such videos will be shared with the public frequently or at specific intervals. We can say that Öcalan’s statements serve as a reminder of what he has previously stated, as they reaffirm the entirety of what we have read before, indicating a determination not to abandon these principles and to communicate this to the entire public in his own voice."

Bayhan stated that what had been said before was reiterated in today’s video, and this call shows that laying down arms will not be merely symbolic. "Actually, he had already stated this before, but here he emphasized it once again with his own voice and image so that the entire public, and especially all members and supporters of the Kurdish political movement, could hear it. There are many things to discuss, but the focus right now is on the process of laying down arms. This statement also reflects that. It emphasizes that the PKK is determined to complete the process of laying down arms in accordance with its Congress decision to dissolve itself, without any delays. As you know, preparations are underway for a disarmament ceremony in the coming days. It is important that this issue is addressed beforehand. This call indicates that the disarmament process will continue and be completed, and that it will not be merely symbolic.”

Bayhan stated that the video call highlighted three fundamental points regarding democratic political grounds and continued, “The first one is the process with the DEM Party, and his emphasis that he will be the architect of the democratic political process with the DEM Party. The second is his emphasis on the commission, the immediate establishment and commencement of the commission's work in Parliament, and the continuation of democratic political debate through this commission. Thirdly, he said in the video that from now on, issues such as democratization in Turkey and the democratic resolution of the Kurdish question will be discussed as a completely new process, not in terms of the Kurds' demands for an independent state or the independence of the Kurdish people, but as discussions on a democratic and peaceful basis, and that he himself can be trusted in this regard. These are the key points of the latest video. He says that serious steps are being taken regarding what steps will be taken next, but he does not say anything specific. He states that he finds the steps taken by the government sincere.”