“We have shared invaluable insights and received golden advice,” said Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Deputy Speaker of Parliament from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, following critical meetings with opposition leaders in Ankara on Tuesday. The DEM Party delegation, led by Önder, Pervin Buldan, and Ahmet Türk, sought to strengthen political consensus after their historic discussions with the imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan.
The meetings, held separately with the Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party leader Ali Babacan and the New Welfare Party (YRP) leader Fatih Erbakan, focused on fostering a roadmap for political dialogue and a resolution to Turkey’s long-standing issues.
Babacan called for clarity from the government. “President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan must openly state his position. Parliament is a key platform for resolution, but in the current system, his stance remains unclear,” he said, emphasising the importance of sincerity in pursuing any solution.
Echoing the sentiment, Önder described the exchanges as a significant step in fostering trust and transparency. “We conveyed our experiences so far and incorporated every suggestion and concern into our deliberations. Consensus can only be built on these foundations,” he stated. The DEM Party has promised a comprehensive statement to outline their next steps, which Önder confirmed would include further consultations with Kurdish parties.
While the delegation refrained from giving a timeline for future engagements with Öcalan, Önder revealed that Ahmet Türk might join subsequent meetings. “Transparency remains our guiding principle,” he asserted.
Later in the day, the DEM Party delegation met with Erbakan, who described the discussions as productive and respectful. “They shared their perspectives and addressed our concerns. Hopefully, this will lead to beneficial outcomes for all,” Erbakan said, maintaining a hopeful tone for Turkey’s democratic future.
The recent momentum follows the DEM Party’s announcement of Öcalan’s readiness to “take necessary positive steps” to promote peace, after a meeting on 28 December. Öcalan’s statement responded to earlier calls by Turkey’s far right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, who had controversially suggested Öcalan address Parliament if he were to call for disbanding PKK operations.
The opposition’s cautious optimism reflects an emerging “new climate”, as Babacan described, since October. However, he reiterated that only genuine efforts, particularly from government officials, could yield meaningful progress.
The DEM Party plans further outreach, aiming to unify diverse political voices in addressing Turkey’s social and political challenges.
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