Speaking on Medya Haber, veteran Kurdish human rights defender Osman Baydemir called for the establishment of independent observer mechanisms to support the peace process following the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s disbandment and the potential resolution of the Kurdish issue in Turkey. Describing the PKK’s decision to cease armed struggle and lay down weapons as a significant and voluntary step towards peace, he stated, “This is a completely voluntary thing”.
Baydemir stressed that, after this declaration, there should be no further military operations. He also emphasised the importance of a mechanism to ensure that both sides exercise caution to avoid provocations and prevent any death from becoming a provocation.
He elaborated: “This could be a state mechanism, or it could consist of civil society organisations and politicians. It could involve southern authorities, Baghdad authorities, or even United Nations authorities.”
Baydemir called for an intermediary authority to prevent future attacks, stating, “This authority should at least ensure that no attacks occur in the next period.” He also emphasised the importance of a third-party observer mechanism to prevent provocations by those who oppose peace.
He also said that Ankara must contribute to the peace process. “I believe that Ankara’s declaration of intent will help establish a preventive mechanism to stop provocations.”
Despite these positive steps, Baydemir expressed concerns about the current situation, stating: “Unfortunately, the situation does not alleviate my concerns.” His comments reflect optimism for peace, as well as the need for concrete steps to ensure its success.
