DEM Party responds to claims that Öcalan requested guarantees from the US: 'We are waiting for a statement from Erdoğan'

Participating in a live broadcast on Halk TV, DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan made statements regarding the claims of a new peace process.  

It had been alleged that in his meeting with his nephew, DEM Party MP Ömer Öcalan, PKK leader Öcalan requested legal safeguards and a guarantor country for a new process. Responding to a question regarding this claim, Bakırhan stated that no such conversation took place during the meeting.

"Under conditions where isolation continues, requesting a guarantor country, safeguards, and the like is dialectically contrary to the current process," said Bakırhan. "There was only one meeting. We received information about Mr. Öcalan's health status. He is healthy, he is well, and he is following the process himself; it was conveyed to us that there is no 'process' yet, and that there has been no direct or indirect negotiation with him," he stated.

Bakırhan continued: "But Mr. Öcalan stated that if a legal and political foundation is established, he possesses the will to eliminate conflict and weapons. This was what was valuable and important to us. And immediately after we spoke with our MP Ömer, we issued a call. If it is truly desired that conflicts end, it is necessary to ensure that Öcalan can communicate with society and his own organization."

BAHÇELİ'S STATEMENT QUESTIONED

Journalist Barış Terkoğlu reminded that MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli reacted to the following part of the declaration shared by the DEM Party the previous day:

“Turkey and Kurdistan are located right in the middle of this geography and complex equation. In these days when peoples most need to wrest their right to determine their own destiny and future from the hands of the sovereigns, those who will unleash this potential are the revolutionary movements, women, socialists, the oppressed, the poor, the laborers, and their alliances, primarily the Kurdish people's movement, which marches at the forefront of the struggle against colonialism and fascism with its ideological-political horizon and organized power.”

Bakırhan was reminded that Bahçeli attacked the DEM Party over this declaration with the words: "The provocative statements of a political group that has still not grasped the compassionate and tolerant hand extended by the Turkish nation, has not understood its meaning, and has not comprehended its purpose, and their crippled positions that cannot be explained by any value judgment, are not constructive; on the contrary, they are irresponsible and destructive in nature."

'THERE CAN BE NO SUCH PROCESS'

Reminding that the DEM Party has used a language that contributes to the process since the handshake issue and has declared that it will fulfill its responsibilities, Bakırhan stated the following:

“We have difficulty understanding the act of picking out certain words from a final declaration and placing them as an obstacle in front of a process. Moreover, there can be no such process; a process happens at shoulder level, at eye level. We interpret an approach that constantly threatens, shakes a finger, and dictates a path as a sign that a new process is not desired.

We have stated many times that we must enter the new century with the Kurdish issue resolved through democratic means. We have done everything in our power to show that we attach importance to this process at the highest level and to turn these discussions into a process.

INVITATION TO COMMON SENSE FOR BAHÇELİ

We do not accept that two words are picked out from a final declaration and used as a threat against us just when we say let's socialize this process. This is not right. If these discussions are to evolve into a process, nothing will come of it with this approach. We are actually inviting Bahçeli to common sense. Our co-chairs are making statements on behalf of our party at the primary level. It is necessary to read what our co-chairs say and look at what they are saying. If there is good will, if there is sincerity, believe me… I am saying this through you: The DEM Party has existed since yesterday as one of the primary actors of this process. We will certainly not meet an extended hand with a clenched fist. Our hand is always in the air, our hand is always open for negotiation, but we also defend ourselves against those who show us a fist.

We are people who believe that if a new process is to begin, it is valuable. We will never, under any circumstances, be in a stance or use rhetoric that would sabotage a new process or prevent a new process from forming. But we will never accept an approach that threatens us every time and draws a route for us every time. I call on everyone to refrain from using language that poisons these discussions.”

RESPONDED TO THE CLAIM OF NEGOTIATIONS FOR A YEAR

Bakırhan stated that they have no information to the effect that there have been negotiations with Öcalan for nearly a year. Bakırhan also emphasized that a lot of incorrect information is circulating in this regard.

Stating that Öcalan evaluated the process and the Middle East during the meeting, Bakırhan said, "He very clearly defined that there is definitely no new process there and that there was no negotiation with him on this subject. Our MP Ömer Öcalan conveyed to us that the discussion being debated in the public eye, such as 'he sent a video message to his organization,' did not take place."

'WE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT ERDOĞAN THINKS'

Emphasizing that what Bahçeli said is important, Bakırhan said, "We are curious about what the President and the government think. We believe that for us to think that this is a new process, President Erdoğan also needs to put forward a thought on this matter. If a step is taken and this turns into a process, we are ready to share our thoughts on this matter more openly and clearly with the public," he said. Bakırhan pointed out that he could not speak on such a matter without Erdoğan's knowledge.

Bakırhan said that they find CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's approach to the issue important.

News Source: 12punto