Warning from Ekrem İmamoğlu: 'Weapons could one day return even louder'

A reception was held to mark Europe Day, hosted by Ambassador Thomas Ossowski, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Turkey.

One of the notable aspects of the reception was the special invitation extended to 7 journalists who are being tried on charges of "opposing the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations," facing potential prison sentences ranging from 6 months to 3 years. The opening speech of the evening was delivered by the host, Ossowski.

Following Ossowski, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan took the stage to share a message from IMM Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was detained on March 19 and arrested on March 23 on corruption charges, with the international guests.

In his message, İmamoğlu stated the following:

"Unlike the Europe Day we co-hosted last year, I cannot be physically among you today. However, I wanted to send you a message on this special day to express my strong support for our shared belief in the democratic values that bring us together. As one of Europe's cultural capitals, with its unique position connecting two continents, Istanbul remains, as it has been throughout history, an important symbol of Europe's vision of a pluralistic and open society today. Our social democratic municipality, which took office in 2019 thanks to the will of the people who elected us three times, is determined to tirelessly implement this vision with a participatory and inclusive approach to local governance. The democratic regressions occurring in many parts of the world and Europe today do not only target fundamental rights and freedoms; they also shake the foundations of international relations. The wave of authoritarianism not only weakens democratic institutions; it also erodes common values and the rights-based international order."

In his message, İmamoğlu also touched upon the terrorist organization PKK's announcement to lay down arms and dissolve itself within the framework of the new peace process, which the government has named a 'Terror-Free Turkey.'

The detained IMM Mayor İmamoğlu continued his remarks as follows:

"Populist leaders, for the sake of their own political agendas, do not shy away from manipulating almost anything. Following the great losses, pain, and destruction experienced in Ukraine and Gaza, we are witnessing the restart of peace initiatives. In Turkey, an important development has occurred regarding one of our country's most painful issues. At the beginning of the week, the terrorist organization PKK announced that it had laid down its arms and dissolved itself. However, let us not forget that the silencing of weapons does not mean peace on its own. If there is no social justice, a dignified life, and a democratic order behind ceasefires; if fundamental rights and freedoms are not guaranteed, and if equal citizenship and social participation are not ensured, weapons could one day return even louder. It is impossible to achieve lasting peace without establishing a fair social and political order. Therefore, I would like to emphasize a key point in this context: A process of vital importance regarding the Kurdish issue cannot be managed through negotiations conducted behind closed doors by a small number of politicians, as the government intends to do. Results cannot be achieved with short-term, narrow political calculations aimed at saving the day, while ignoring the regional dimension of the problem."

In his message, İmamoğlu also made a special emphasis on the Treaty of Lausanne, which serves as the founding document of the Republic of Turkey:

"On this occasion, I would also like to mention the Treaty of Lausanne, which constitutes one of the founding texts of the Republic of Turkey. In Lausanne, the foundation of our democratic Republic, it was declared to the world that every citizen within Turkey can live with their head held high, with dignity and freedom, and with their own identity. The Lausanne Conference is also a great diplomatic victory for Turkey, which had just emerged from war and prioritized peace, and every one of our citizens feels, and should feel, a justified pride in this victory. I must underline that for Turkey, the priority is always the principle of 'peace at home, peace in the world.' This principle is the legacy left to us by the founder of our Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The Treaty of Lausanne is the starting point of relations based on equality, independence, and peace with Europe. In Istanbul, we have also pursued policies that protect this democratic legacy and inclusivity spanning over 100 years."

Addressing the events of the morning of March 19, İmamoğlu stated that the public did not remain silent against interventions in democracy:

"The local governance approach we have pursued for years has offered a vision based on inclusive governance and management that does not exclude or marginalize the public. As we implemented this vision and strove to spread it across Turkey, the pressure on us increased. As you know, on the morning of March 19, my home was surrounded by hundreds of police officers. I was arrested on politically motivated charges lacking legal basis. Our municipality was blockaded, and my colleagues were detained. However, our people did not remain silent in the face of this political operation. Millions of people, from university students to women, from youth to retirees, exercised their right to democratic protest against all obstacles. I thank the European leaders, members of parliament, and especially my fellow mayors who have made statements and shown solidarity on this matter. Relations between the European Union and Turkey should be shaped not by daily interests, but by a long-term vision."

At the end of his message, touching upon the CHP's EU vision, İmamoğlu emphasized that Turkey should take its place within the European family within the framework of democratic principles:

"As the Republican People's Party (CHP), we believe that Turkey's place is among countries that are democratic, pluralistic, and respectful of human rights and the rule of law. We advocate that relations with the EU should be rebuilt not only in technical areas but on the basis of values and principles and at an institutional level. A Turkey committed to democracy and the rule of law is indispensable for Europe's security and common future. The entrapment of this relationship between the triangle of migration, security, and financial support, or its being held hostage to the internal agendas of certain member states, harms both sides. I celebrate your Europe Day and thank you for your participation."

News Source: 12punto