DEM Party reveals details of the meeting with PKK leader Öcalan!

DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları has disclosed details regarding the visit made yesterday to PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and Öcalan's message concerning laying down arms. 

Speaking to T24, Hatimoğulları said the following regarding the microphone seen in front of Öcalan: 

"The information sent to our delegation was that the call would be via video. That is what we understood as well. The statement made by the minister at the last minute was not seen as very appropriate by us either. Öcalan said, 'Do not get hung up on the method.' A recording was indeed made there, but we do not have it."

'HE HAD NO INDIVIDUAL DEMAND'

Addressing MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's call for the 'right to hope,' Hatimoğulları used the following expressions: 

"Öcalan did not have an individual demand. Öcalan's demand was, 'I have made a call; for the continuation of this call, my working conditions need to be eased.' He did not delve into the issues of the right to hope."

In the meeting held by our delegation, Öcalan specifically requested from the delegation in the first meeting that they hold talks on his behalf with all political parties, primarily the opposition parties, and he conveyed certain messages. This was the result that emerged from the first meeting our Imralı delegation attended. If you recall, our delegation met with political parties. He was very curious about the feedback on this and very curious about how the opposition would receive it.

In 2013, the opposition was not an effective participant; in fact, it was opposed to it. There are also some handicaps from the perspective of the nationalist segment. The fact that the call came from Bahçeli had a positive effect on the atmosphere there. In the second meeting, he requested to meet with other Kurdish leaders and was curious about the results of that as well. Our delegation had presented the report of their first visit during their second trip."

'HE WROTE IT HIMSELF'

Hatimoğulları stated that Öcalan wrote the letter in his own handwriting, saying, "We did not intervene in the content." 

Hatimoğulları said the following: 

"If it had been audio, it would have appealed more to the emotions of the Kurdish community. If there had been video, it would have reflected positively. He says, 'This call of mine should be understood well.'  he says. 

In the first meeting, he said, 'The way to solve the Kurdish issue by removing it from violence and conflict is to move it to a political and legal dimension.' This message is exactly the same."

'HE ASKED ABOUT BAHÇELİ'S HEALTH'

Hatimoğulları, in response to journalist Murat Sabuncu's "Was anything discussed regarding Bahçeli's health during your conversation?" question, replied as follows:

"He had heard that he was ill and asked us about his health status, and we told him that he was improving."

WILL THE PKK HEED THE CALL?

Hatimoğulları also, regarding the question, "Was the issue of whether Kandil would heed this call brought up? Is there any question mark regarding this?" responded: "There is none at all. He knew that the call he would make would be taken seriously. I also saw it in the mainstream media. They already said there that we stand behind every statement." she replied.

News Source: 12punto