Kurdish Politician Meral Danış Beştaş Evaluates Recent Meeting with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan

DEM Party Erzurum Deputy and Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson Meral Danış Beştaş evaluated the meeting and subsequent statement made by Pervin Buldan and Sırrı Süreyya Önder with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan at the Imralı F Type Prison on December 28.

Participating in an interview on Halk TV, Beştaş stated, “I believe that the People’s Alliance has reached a consensus among themselves.”

Highlighting the importance of the statement issued after the meeting, Beştaş said, “If the statement is read carefully, it includes many details, from what was discussed during the meeting to the evolution of Kurdish and Turkish people’s solidarity towards democracy.”

DECISION MADE NOT TO SHARE THE ENTIRE CONTENT: It was decided not to share the entire 3-hour meeting with the public at this stage. We had a meeting that we hoped would evolve into a solution process. We have been taking our place in Turkish politics by expressing for years that the Kurdish issue should be solved through democratic and political means and through dialogue and negotiation. We stated that isolation is unlawful and torture. This is not just a wish; we have experienced what could change between 2013-2015. It may have ended negatively, but we can learn lessons from it.

I THINK THERE IS CONSENSUS: (On how the statement resonated in the People’s Alliance) The statement text itself and what happened after October 1 should be considered as a whole. There is a reference to Bahçeli and Erdoğan in this text. Öcalan would not mention Mr. Bahçeli and Erdoğan unilaterally in the meeting. I can say that at least there is a consensus of some sort. I see it as a positive approach.

I DID NOT SEE A NEGATIVE SITUATION IN THE GOVERNMENT BLOCK: In the initial period, there was a debate about whether Bahçeli’s call was made without Erdoğan’s knowledge, but I believe that the People’s Alliance would not make such an attempt regarding Turkey’s most important issue without such a consensus. I did not see a negative situation in the government block; this is my opinion.

WE CONCLUDE THAT THE TALKS WILL CONTINUE: I do not agree with the evaluations that the text is empty and does not provide a roadmap. On the contrary, since yesterday, we have been going through a process where many things can be discussed and conclusions drawn from the 7-point text. First of all, there is a question of relatability. Öcalan is on the island of Imralı. Öcalan was the actor we indicated for the solution. We are talking about the text that includes these three names. We conclude that the talks will continue. It is highly likely that it will evolve into a process. This is where our great hope lies.

ERDOĞAN’S RE-NOMINATION: (Allegations of a new constitution and support for Erdoğan’s 3rd term candidacy) Before each election period, discussions about whether Kurds have agreed or will agree with the AK Party are rife. Can such a thing happen? There is a closure case against the HDP. We know how to distinguish negotiation from struggle. We are not novices in this. Unfortunately, we have been tested with such major events. We always defend negotiation, but we do not give up the struggle politically. We find it positive that Erdoğan and Bahçeli look favorably on this process. We argue that Özel, Dervişoğlu, and Erbakan, representing their parties, should approach this process with the same sensitivity. Is it possible to infer that we will form an alliance with all these parties from our meeting with the government? This conclusion should never be drawn.

(NEWS CENTER)