SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — In a meeting with a delegation from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on Imrali Island on Saturday, imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan shared his vision for a lasting resolution to the Kurdish issue.
In a statement issued by the delegation, Ocalan, described as being in good health, has emphasized the urgent need for peace and cooperation between Kurds and Turks, calling it both a historical responsibility and a crucial step for all nations in the region.
Ocalan has stressed that strengthening Kurdish-Turkish brotherhood was of decisive importance and urged all political parties in Turkey to take a positive and constructive approach. He has noted that success in this process would require political unity and a shift away from temporary, narrow calculations, with the Turkish parliament playing a pivotal role in moving the agenda forward.
Reflecting on recent conflicts in Gaza and Syria, Ocalan pointed out that foreign interventions had further complicated the Kurdish issue, making a solution more urgent than ever. He called for broader opposition participation, recognizing that a solution of such magnitude also carries significant risks.
Regarding the initiative supported by Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ocalan expressed his determination to contribute to the paradigm, asserting that his expertise could play a key role in advancing this new idea.
Bahceli had previously suggested that Ocalan could be allowed to speak in Turkey’s parliament if he announces an end to the PKK’s insurgency. The proposal, which would allow for Ocalan’s potential release, came amid growing speculation about new efforts to end the four-decade-old conflict.
Ocalan declared that these collective efforts would elevate Turkey to the level it deserves and provide valuable guidance for democratic change in the country. He also underscored that it’s the eara of peace, democracy, and brotherhood for Tureky and the region.
