Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan was visited on Imralı island by an HDP delegation consisting of HDP Group chairs Pervin Buldan and İdris Baluken and Istanbul deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder. The HDP delegation issued a written statement regarding the meeting yesterday, saying it had lasted 4 hours. The HDP said Öcalan had expressed his sorrow for those who had died in the incidents of 6-7 October, conveying his condolences to their families.

The Kurdish leader told the HDP delegation that the process had reached a new stage as of 15 October. Öcalan said what was needed was trust in peace and democracy and a more determined resolve to take courageous political steps, adding: "If we don’t do this while we have the opportunity to reach universal solutions, our region will perish in the maelstrom of the impositions of other forces.”

'Efforts should be stepped up for enduring negotiations’

The statement said Öcalan had stressed: "it is essential that all institutions and bodies in the region that believe in democratic politics, peace and a resolution should approach the question in a serious, responsible and enquiring way. It is of the utmost importance that the parties learn from these incidents, grasp the crucial importance of a democratic resolution and accelerate efforts towards enduring negotiations. The parties have a duty to establish a stable legal footing. If this is not done, it is inevitable that this period will conclude with a coup by the deep state. The most important option for all the peoples and faiths living in this region should be a radical democracy.”

'With 15 October we have reached a new stage’

Öcalan said the following regarding the process of resolution: "As regards the process of resolution we were exposed to a breaking point. The most significant reason for this was the government’s attempt to instrumentalise the form of relations it has established with me in this process. It has become abundantly clear that such an approach does not meet the requirements of the issue we are trying to resolve. It has now been sufficiently grasped by the parties that the narrowness of this approach will not serve the process. I wish to say that with 15 October this process, which closely interests the democratic future of Turkey and lasting peace in our region, we have moved on to a new stage and I am more optimistic regarding successful practice.”

The Kurdish leader also stressed that:“It is our historic duty and responsibility towards our peoples to ensure the hope we have revived leads to practical results without delay. All those in favour of democracy and peace must play their part. In this context I consider the meeting of the Wise Persons and the Second Ankara Peace Conference, and the demands that emerged from these platforms, to be of the utmost importance. What everyone must understand is that it is in our power to reverse the dynamics that threaten all of us and to ensure our peoples, the entire region and all humanity enjoy the benefits of democracy. What is needed here is trust in peace and democracy, a more determined resolution and courageous political steps. If we don’t do this while we have the opportunity to reach universal solutions, our region will perish in the maelstrom of the impositions of other forces.”