A political, democratic solution to the long-standing Kurdish conflict must be negotiated, stressed Catalan politician and Member of the European Parliament Jordi Solé i Ferrando in a recent interview with Medya Haber TV.
The Catalan politician’s remarks came as he attended an event in support of the “Freedom for Ocalan, a political solution to the Kurdish question” campaign in Strasbourg on Tuesday. Expressing strong solidarity with the Kurdish people, Solé i Ferrando highlighted the critical situation of Kurdish rights and the lack of progress in political negotiations.
Noting that the right to self-determination is a fundamental principle enshrined in international law, Solé i Ferrando underlined its relevance not only for the Kurdish people, but for all ethnic and national groups seeking autonomy. The MEP stressed the need for all parties involved to engage in constructive dialogue in order to resolve the long-standing issues.
Solé i Ferrando criticised the current stalemate and the absence of any political process or dialogue, describing it as “dangerous” and detrimental to all parties involved. He called on the international community to play a more active role in facilitating a peaceful solution, stressing the need for all stakeholders to come together to negotiate an end to the conflict.
The MEP expressed particular concern about the lack of communication with Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) who is considered a key figure in the Kurdish movement, noting that there has been no news of him for three years. Öcalan’s prolonged incommunicado detention has raised alarm among human rights organisations and international bodies, who have called for renewed efforts to start dialogue and negotiations.
