BREAKING NEWS... Statement from DEM Party following MHP and AKP visits: 'Communication channels between Öcalan and the organization must be opened'

Following the historic call made by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli on October 22, 2024, and the subsequent call by PKK terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan on February 27 for the organization to "lay down arms and dissolve," the DEM Party has continued its political contacts.

As the DEM Party's visits to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) continued today, the first meeting began with the MHP at 11:00 AM. The DEM Party delegation included Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Sırrı Süreyya Önder, and Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit.

The DEM Party delegation was welcomed by MHP Deputy Chairman Semih Yalçın, Deputy Chairman in charge of Legal and Election Affairs Feti Yıldız, and Deputy Chairman İsmail Faruk Aksu.

Following the welcome, the delegations moved to the meeting hall and exchanged views for approximately 1 hour.

STATEMENT AFTER THE MEETING WITH MHP

In her statement after the meeting, Tülay Hatimoğulları thanked the MHP delegation and conveyed her get-well wishes to MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli. MHP Deputy Chairman Semih Yalçın stated that they would not provide a detailed explanation for now, saying, "It was a very useful meeting."

WHAT HAD BAHÇELİ SAID?

Prior to the meeting between the DEM Party and the MHP, a statement had been issued yesterday by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli. Bahçeli, who is resting following a surgery, said in his statement, "The DEM Party delegation's meetings with political parties within a program framework and their support for the struggle for a Turkey without terrorism are commendable. Undoubtedly, I would have liked to be present at the second visit the DEM Party delegation will make to the MHP and to exchange views in person. However, I believe that my colleagues assigned to represent our party will not make my absence felt and will convey our thoughts to their interlocutors with a clear and clean temperament."

MEETING WITH AKP LASTED 2 HOURS

Following the MHP, the DEM Party visited the AKP. The AKP delegation included AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, AKP Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala, AKP Group Chairman Abdullah Güler, and AKP Group Deputy Chairman Özlem Zengin.

After the visit, which lasted approximately two hours, AKP Group Chairman Abdullah Güler said regarding the meeting, "We had a sincere, friendly conversation. We shared our mutual assessments regarding the process."

STATEMENT FROM DEM PARTY

The DEM Party Co-Chairs made a statement following their TBMM visits regarding the critical process. The chairs touched upon when and under what conditions the PKK terrorist organization would lay down its arms, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's stance on the process, and the meeting they will hold with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

'WE MUST ALL DO OUR HOMEWORK'

Highlights from Tuncer Bakırhan's statement are as follows:

"We conveyed that we are in a historical process and that what needs to be done is clear. We stated that we all must fulfill our homework. Of course, while we were acting with the intention of peace, we woke up to the news of a very painful attack. Attacks like the one in Kobani, where 7 children died, can harm this process. Attention had been drawn to sabotage before; it should be known who is doing these. Whatever the massacre in Roboski was, this is a massacre of the same degree.

'PEACE SHOULD NOT BE SABOTAGED LIKE THIS'

President Erdoğan had said that we would take measures against such provocations. Now I want to remind Erdoğan of this promise. Peace should not be tested with such sabotage. Such things can happen, but how one stands against them is important. Without falling into arrogance, we have positively linked this process, starting from October 22 and continuing with the call on February 27. With all our joint efforts, we have brought this process to a point; we have crossed the ocean, so to speak. We condemn these provocations. What has happened should not remain as such a dark picture in a process leading to peace. We believe that peace, which we think 85 million people in Turkey will contribute to, will make everyone happy."

'SECURITY IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PKK TO LAY DOWN ARMS'

Tülay Hatimoğulları's statement is as follows:

"Our plan regarding İmralı will become clear within a few days; we do not have an application yet. We followed Mr. Bahçeli's statements, and we convey our get-well wishes to him again. We are also closely following the issue of the PKK laying down arms, which Mr. Bahçeli expressed. When Mr. Öcalan made his call, he shared the responsibilities falling on the PKK. We have observed from their statements that the PKK will make its own congress call once a security environment is provided regarding the creation of conditions. Öcalan told us on February 27, 'I have the power to make the decision to convene the congress.' As we said, it is important that the necessary security environment is created for the PKK to lay down arms and that our communication channel with Öcalan continues.

'WE WILL MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT AFTER THE HOLIDAY'

Our views on the trustee law are clear. We conveyed our views on this matter to both the AKP and the MHP today. I cannot say we received a clear answer, but a mutual step toward democratization in the coming period regarding this issue and other matters was discussed. Most likely, we will hold a meeting with the President after the holiday."