A delegation from pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) has completed its series of meetings in the Kurdistan Region, which began on 16 February. The group, commonly referred to as the “İmralı delegation”, met with key political figures including Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, PUK Presidential Council member Şehnaz İbrahim Ahmed and KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
The delegation included İmralı delegation members Pervin Buldan and Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chair Keskin Bayındır, Foreign Affairs Commission co-spokesman Berdan Öztürk, deputies Gülcan Kaçmaz Sayyiğit and Mehmet Kamaç, and lawyers from Asrın Law Office, İbrahim Bilmez and Özgür Erol.
Speaking to Mezopotamya, Sırrı Süreyya Önder stressed the “positive atmosphere” of all the discussions. He thanked the politicians and institutions for their “enthusiasm and warm welcome” and stressed that the delegation had received support, suggestions and cautionary advice regarding the peace process.
"We mainly conveyed the evaluations made by Mr Öcalan. We conveyed the questions he asked. We tried to formulate answers to them. In addition, the issue of national unity was among the issues discussed. We tried to create the widest possible social ground for peace."
Önder went on to say that they conveyed Abdullah Öcalan’s assessments and questions to the political leaders they met, noting that issues related to national unity were also discussed. Emphasising the importance of the talks, he said the delegation would convey the answers and support offered by these leaders to Öcalan in due course.
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In a separate statement, Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç responded to inquiries about a possible visit to Öcalan by the DEM party’s İmralı delegation. Before a Justice and Development Party (AKP) group meeting, Tunç said that any new request for a visit would be evaluated, adding that if permission was granted, the visit could take place.
The delegation concluded its consultations with a focus on promoting a broader social base for peace efforts. Further details of the leaders’ messages and proposals will be shared directly with Öcalan when the delegation next has the opportunity to meet him.
