Home > Current Affairs News > İmamoğlu comments on PKK's dissolution decision: 'It is time to get to work': Lists conditions with 'As long as'

İmamoğlu comments on PKK's dissolution decision: 'It is time to get to work': Lists conditions with 'As long as'

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently detained at the Marmara Prison in Silivri, has issued a statement regarding the terrorist organization PKK's decision to dissolve and lay down arms.

12punto

Regarding the PKK's dissolution decision, İmamoğlu stated, "Such a major and important process cannot be carried out as the government is attempting, through meetings held behind closed doors by a small number of politicians, without the support and approval of society, without the inclusion of experts, and without minimum democratic conditions such as freedom of expression and association. Furthermore, such a major and important process cannot be brought to success with a perspective that focuses on saving the day and winning elections, is short-term, and neglects the regional dimension of the issue."

Ekrem İmamoğlu wrote the following:

"My Dear Nation,

I have learned that the terrorist organization PKK has decided to dissolve itself and lay down its arms. I am very happy on behalf of my country that a period that has cost the lives of our youth and tens of thousands of our Turkish and Kurdish citizens over the past forty years, and which has drained our resources, is finally coming to an end.

Now is the time for talking, dialogue, politics, and getting to work. There are things we must do both at home and abroad to ensure we never return to those dark days.

We need to make legal arrangements, take steps in social and psychological fields, carry out comprehensive political and legal reforms, and embark on a major development initiative in our Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions, in a wide area ranging from the seamless completion of the dissolution and disarmament process to ensuring the recognition of the rights of our citizens stemming from being equal members of the Republic of Turkey.

Such a major and important process cannot be carried out as the government is attempting, through meetings held behind closed doors by a small number of politicians, without the support and approval of society, without the inclusion of experts, and without minimum democratic conditions such as freedom of expression and association. Furthermore, such a major and important process cannot be brought to success with a perspective that focuses on saving the day and winning elections, is short-term, and neglects the regional dimension of the issue.

On the contrary, to properly fulfill the requirements of this major and important process, we need transparency, the strengthening of the parliamentary floor, inclusivity, a climate of freedom and democracy, and a long-term, regional perspective.

In order to prevent the recurrence of the issue we have suffered through for forty years, it is of great importance that all families who have experienced pain, especially our families of martyrs and veterans, are listened to with sensitivity, informed about the process, and that their forgiveness is sought. Except for sensitive parts concerning national security, it is essential that all dimensions of the process be known to the public and transparent, that the nation be made a partner in the process, that different opinions and the suggestions of civil society and relevant experts be heeded, and that a political atmosphere and legal order be formed that will allow everyone to have their say.

In this framework, in order to safely bring the process to completion, a general debate should be opened in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), and then a commission should be formed with the participation of all parties represented in the Assembly to address the issue.

My Dear Citizens,

No matter how much we rejoice that a period that has caused great hardship to our country and nation is coming to an end, it is not enough. On the other hand, we must also realize this: This issue, which has caused great pain for forty years, has a history and deep-rooted causes, some of which stem from the wrong practices of our state.

The fact that we have not been able to make our Kurdish citizens feel like equal citizens of our Republic, and that we have viewed Kurds outside our borders through a security perspective, are among the primary causes.

In order to solve this most deep-rooted issue of our country in a way that it will never recur, we need to make all members of the Republic of Turkey citizens with equal rights, equal shareholders of our Republic, and make Kurds who are not our citizens our brothers. If we can make our Kurdish citizens feel equal to everyone else and make Kurds who are not our citizens our brothers, we will not only solve our problem but also make our country, in the true sense, a great power of the region and the pole star of the Middle East.

Feeling safe and entitled as equal citizens of the Republic and equal shareholders of our homeland is not only a requirement of justice but also a historical necessity for the sustainability of our Republic and the deepening of our democracy. These principles will be the strongest foundation that unites us in the ideal of a common homeland, common destiny, and common future that makes us a nation together.

Beautiful people of my Turkey,

None of our country's problems are unsolvable. With common sense, wisdom, negotiation, reason, science, and most importantly, love for the republic, democracy, and the homeland, we can find solutions to every issue.

As long as we do not divide our nation.

As long as we do not demonize our political rivals.

As long as we do not deviate from the rule of law and justice.

As long as we take all power from the hands of a handful of privileged people and return it to the nation.

And as long as we protect the gains of our Republic, which is our common future, and the national sovereignty.

Our crescent and star flag is lofty enough to gather us all under it; our heavenly homeland is large and embracing enough for all our citizens.

We are continuing our work to solve all the deep-rooted issues of our country, including the Kurdish issue, with wisdom, negotiation, science, and reason. With God's permission, we will come to power in the first election and address all our deep-rooted issues one by one.

We will bring prosperity, peace, and justice to all citizens from the East, West, North, and South. We will be a country where people of every identity and belief feel accepted, respected, and equal.

We will lift our nation out of the vortex of poverty it has been dragged into; we will build a system together that works, produces, earns, and shares fairly.

The days when Turks and Kurds will live together in brotherhood, peace, and prosperity are not far away."