Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) MPs Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan met with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Prison on 28 December. After the meeting in İmralı, the delegation consisting of Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Pervin Buldan and Ahmet Türk, Co-Mayor of Mêrdîn Metropolitan Municipality, who was replaced by a trustee, made a series of visits to the heads of political parties represented in the Parliament, imprisoned politicians in prison, DEM Party components and various circles.

 

WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM THE DELEGATION 

 

DEM Party İmralı Delegation made a written statement on the İmralı visit and the talks held afterwards. 

 

The statement of the delegation reads: "On 28 December 2024, following our meeting with Mr. Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı, we held a series of meetings with the Turkish Grand National Assembly, political parties and fellow politicians in prison.

 

On January 3, our visits and meetings started with the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş and continued with the heads and representatives of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Future Party, Justice and Development Party (AKP), Felicity Party, Republican People's Party (CHP), Deva Party and New Walfare Party. On January 11-12, we held meetings with our former co-presidents and fellow politicians, Ms. Figen Yüksekdağ, Mr. Selahattin Demirtaş, Ms. Leyla Güven and Mr. Selçuk Mızraklı, who are being held in prison. 

 

These dialogue and peace-oriented meetings and exchange of ideas have been initiated and are being continued with our Co-General Chairs and party committees, political parties and formations that make up our party component, political parties and non-governmental organizations with which we are in alliance. 

 

First of all, we would like to express our sincere respect and gratitude to all political parties and their esteemed leaders who welcomed us with courtesy and kindness, shared their valuable opinions and suggestions, and expressed their concerns and criticisms in a very constructive manner. 

 

The main axis of our visit agenda was the transfer of the results of our meeting with Mr. Öcalan and the mutual evaluation of the new situation that has emerged. In summary, these focused on the willingness and will to make a positive contribution to finding a lasting solution to the Kurdish issue and the resulting conflict, the historical responsibility of strengthening the Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood, the responsibility imposed by the profound and irreversible developments in the Middle East, and the fact that the Parliament and democratic politics constitute the most important ground for the solution of the issue.

 

Almost all the meetings were sincere and promisingly positive. The leaders and their delegations expressed their support for the peace process in principle. However, they also raised concerns and suggestions on various issues. These mainly centered on the transparency of the process and its conduct/execution within the Parliament. During these meetings, our delegation made statements and presentations aimed at addressing these concerns and question marks.

 

Our impression from the meetings is that there is a common desire and will among all political parties to leave behind the conflictual and tense process stemming from the Kurdish issue. It is a common opinion that it is in everyone's interest to move beyond this and to develop the unity and brotherhood of all ethnic, religious and sectarian elements in our country. A parallel point is that the peace process should lead to general democratization and the expansion of the space for democratic politics. 

 

Our discussions with our presidents and friends in prisons have been extremely positive. They expressed their open support for the role of Mr. Öcalan and the DEM Party in this process and stated that they will fulfill their responsibility to contribute positively to strengthening the political and social ground. 

 

At a time when we are focusing on peace, democracy and brotherhood for Turkey and the region, the divisive and prejudiced tone that we sometimes encounter in the print and broadcast media and the speculation that this creates make our work difficult. Everyone and every social segment has expectations and hopes as well as concerns, sensitivities and question marks regarding this process. We are aware of this. In this situation, producing and circulating fabricated discourses that cannot even be called hearsay and trying to create agendas that push even the moral boundaries in places is, if anything, to be tied to war-mongering as a result.

 

With all our good impressions, we will pay a visit to Mr. Öcalan as soon as possible and we will spare no effort to ensure that the process reaches peace through healthy methods.

 

The public's continued support for our efforts will be the most valuable building block in the construction of peace and solution.

 

With our love and respect.”