BREAKING NEWS... First group meeting of DEM Party following PKK's dissolution decision: Sets a date for certain regulations: Cites the Orkhon Inscriptions

The terrorist organization PKK had decided to dissolve itself following a so-called congress it convened. Following this decision, the DEM Party held its first group meeting. DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan made statements at his party's group meeting.

Here are the highlights from Bakırhan's statements:

"We are in a historic process. Society has been dreaming of these days for years. Society had a great longing for peace and for days when solutions are discussed; today, the door to those days has been opened. May it be auspicious for the peoples of Turkey. I hope we crown it with peace and equal citizenship. In the meetings we have held, we have witnessed that the society of Turkey is thirsty for peace.

For decades, people did not lose hope. We Kurds have also lived through such painful years in the past that I hope we will live these days as they come, and reach days where we will live without pain and without conflict together. We commemorate every life we have lost in the struggle for peace with gratitude.

THANKS TO BAHÇELİ AND ÖZEL

What is expected of us in this process is to reveal a will that transforms democratic politics. It is up to us politicians to make the peace process legal and permanent. Starting with the Parliament, intellectuals, writers, and artists are the true owners of this process.

Very important statements have been made during this process. There are two important statements that will contribute to this process. We find Mr. Devlet Bahçeli's assessment yesterday that 'The atmosphere of peace must be permanent and realistic. Politics should be strengthened with political and legal steps' to be valuable, and we wholeheartedly support this constructive approach. Similarly, Mr. Özgür Özel's finding that 'Lasting social peace depends on the sincerity and legality of the steps to be taken' is also extremely valuable. We expect the executive branch to fulfill its responsibility.

I want to explain something by adapting it from the Orkhon Inscriptions. The Orkhon Inscriptions say exactly this: 'Peace is a great opportunity to feed the hungry and to multiply the few.' In the development of this historic process, we offer our most sincere gratitude and thanks to Mr. Öcalan, who took on great responsibility, to Mr. Bahçeli, who displayed a courageous stance on the path to a solution, to Mr. Erdoğan, who embraced this will, and to Mr. Özel, Mr. Davutoğlu, Mr. Babacan, Mr. Arıkan, and all opposition parties who have supported the process from the first day. I also want to extend a big thank you to our constituent parties that have stood with us for 13 years, day and night, resisting and struggling, who went to prison with us, were tortured, but did not abandon the Kurds, as well as their executives, provincial and district organizations, and those who support them.

"CERTAIN REGULATIONS MUST BE MADE WITHOUT WAITING FOR AFTER THE HOLIDAY"

Making certain humanitarian, concrete, and confidence-building regulations without waiting for after the holiday will pave the way for Turkey. It will turn the Eid al-Adha into a double holiday. I want to state that we expect the executive branch to fulfill its duty and responsibility in this regard as well. Postponing peace is forbidden.

Öcalan and the PKK pointed to the Parliament. We also say, let the words 'Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation' become a reality. Let the Parliament be the founding power of peace. It is time for all branches to take responsibility and fulfill their duties. If weapons are to be silenced, democratic politics must speak; if weapons are to be silenced, the obstacles before democratic politics must be removed. Let us bring the republic together with democracy with the idea of a common homeland.

Come, let us crown the republic with democracy in the second century. Peace, democracy, and law are not just for one segment; the discussions made as if only Kurds will attain their rights are wrong. If peace wins, we will all win. This process is not a give-and-take process; the compass of this process is politics. I convey my thanks to our constituents who have resisted and struggled with us for 13 years.

We commemorate our valuable fellow traveler, Mr. Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who dedicated his life to peace and the brotherhood of peoples. I want to end my words by commemorating all the lives we have lost on this path."

PKK'S STATEMENT WAS ASKED

Responding to journalists' questions after the group meeting, Tuncer Bakırhan was asked about the terrorist organization PKK's remarks regarding Lausanne and the 1924 Constitution. In his response to the question, Bakırhan said, 'If the process progresses, you can ask this question to the interlocutors.'

News Source: 12punto