French Senator Anne Souyris has called for a revival of peace talks between Turkey and Kurdish representatives following Abdullah Öcalan’s recent family visit, his first after 43 months in isolation. Souyris, a senator with The Ecologists (Les Écologistes, LE), shared her views on X (formerly Twitter) on 28 October, in alignment with an earlier appeal by the Kurdish Democratic Council in France (CDK-F) on 24 October. “France must work towards a resumption of dialogue between the Turkish government and its minorities, particularly the Kurds, so that the fundamental rights of all are respected,” she wrote, referring to Turkey’s ongoing internal conflicts and attacks on North and East Syria (Rojava).
Öcalan, who remains held on İmralı Island, received his nephew, pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party MP Ömer Öcalan, in a rare family meeting on 23 October. According to CDK-F’s statement, the Kurdish leader remains committed to dialogue, describing this approach as a means for peacefully resolving Turkey’s Kurdish question. The Council added, “Mr Öcalan sent a message in favour of dialogue and expressed his desire to resolve the Kurdish question by political and peaceful means.”
The visit was closely followed by Turkish airstrikes on areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), actions Turkish officials stated were in response to recent attacks attributed to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Both CDK-F and Senator Souyris highlighted the potential for dialogue in bringing stability to Turkey and its surrounding regions. CDK-F’s statement underscored Öcalan’s influence in advancing a political resolution and invited France to consider a proactive diplomatic role.
Souyris’s message, made in the wake of CDK-F’s call, reflects growing interest among European figures in fostering a stable and democratic pathway for Turkey and its Kurdish population. With tensions escalating, European advocacy for diplomatic solutions could be crucial in shaping these ongoing conflicts.
