DEM Party Central Executive Committee meets following Bahçeli's remarks on Öcalan

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Central Executive Committee (MYK) has met.

The MYK meeting, which began following a 3-day Party Assembly (PM) meeting, is also expected to evaluate the speech by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, in which he suggested that PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan should announce the dissolution of the organization from the floor of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).

WHAT HAPPENED?

MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, speaking at his party's TBMM Group Meeting, issued a call regarding PKK terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan, stating: "If the isolation of the terrorist leader is lifted, let him come and speak at the DEM Party group meeting in the TBMM. Let him declare that terrorism has completely ended and that the organization has been dissolved. If he shows this resolve and determination, the path should be wide open for legal arrangements regarding the use of the right to hope and for him to benefit from it. Let the address extend from Imralı to DEM, not Kandil or Edirne, and let this heavy and historical terror problem be completely removed from the country's agenda. I challenge you, we are ready for this."

Responding to this call made by MHP leader Bahçeli, Tülay Hatimoğulları stated the following:

"The interlocutor for the Kurdish issue in Turkey is Abdullah Öcalan. If there is to be a beginning, the isolation must be lifted immediately. We are ready to take initiative for an honorable peace."

"We have been struggling for years for the isolation on Öcalan to be lifted. It must absolutely be lifted. We say let him come physically and speak. Let us all see what he has to say. Steps must be taken urgently on this matter without delay. I underline once again that as the DEM Party, we are ready to do whatever is necessary regarding this issue."