Presidential advisor confirms controversial Öcalan remarks: 'It was said at the meeting in Erzurum'

Statements made by Presidential Chief Advisor Mehmet Uçum during a television program have sparked public debate. Uçum claimed to journalist Candaş Tolga Işık that a relative of a martyr in Erzurum had said, "If terrorism in Turkey ends and is liquidated, let alone releasing Öcalan, I wouldn't be a man if I didn't serve him breakfast in my home."

Journalist İsmail Saymaz reacted to these statements on the social media platform X. Saymaz stated, "Presidential Advisor Mehmet Uçum is inventing an unbelievable rumor to justify Bahçeli's İmralı proposal. I am very curious about who this Erzurum martyr's relative is who said they would give Apo breakfast in their home if the PKK lays down its arms."

IT WAS SAID AT THE MEETING IN ERZURUM

A response to Saymaz's post came from Presidential Advisor Ayhan Ogan. Ogan stated that the remarks in question were made at a meeting held in Erzurum. Ogan made the following statement:

"Mr. İsmail, that meeting was held in the historic building in Erzurum where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk convened the Erzurum Congress. As the Eastern Anatolia General Secretary, I organized the meeting. It was a breakfast program attended by 150-200 people, including Erzurum non-governmental organizations, opinion leaders, and families of martyrs. A participant there took the floor and said, 'If the terrorist organization is going to lay down its arms and terrorism is going to end, I will give the head of the terrorists breakfast in my home.' The Eastern Anatolia Wise People Committee was also present at the meeting."

İsmail bey o toplantı Erzurum da Mustafa Kemal Atatürk ün Erzurum kongresini topladığı tarihi binada yapıldı.

Doğu Anadolu genel sekreteri olarak toplantıyı ben organize ettim.

Erzurum sivil toplum kuruluşları,kanaat önderleri,şehit aileleri vs den oluşan 150 -200 kişinin hazır… https://t.co/kTVqfJ6IiS

— Ayhan Ogan (@ayhan_ogan) November 16, 2024