Critical day in the 'peace process': All eyes on the 5:00 PM announcement

Following the call for a "Turkey without terrorism" by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, which led to a process involving meetings with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan at İmralı, the Ministry of Justice has granted approval for the DEM Party's third visit to İmralı.

The DEM delegation has set off for İmralı Island.

ALL EYES ON THE 5:00 PM ANNOUNCEMENT

Initially, it was stated that the announcement following the visit would be made on Friday. However, the date of the announcement has changed.

It has been learned that the DEM Party delegation will make an announcement in Istanbul at 5:00 PM today upon their return from İmralı. The announcement is expected to include a call from Öcalan.

AHMET TÜRK IS ALSO IN THE DELEGATION

The delegation includes Istanbul MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Van MP Pervin Buldan, DEM Party Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, veteran politician Ahmet Türk, Istanbul MP Cengiz Çiçek, and lawyer Faik Özgür Erol from the Asrın Law Office.

SCREENS ARE BEING SET UP IN VAN AND DIYARBAKIR

The DEM Party's provincial organizations in Diyarbakır and Van issued a call via their social media accounts, inviting the public to the squares.

The Van provincial organization, in a post announcing, "We are welcoming the call of the century in Van en masse," invited the people of Van to the City Square.

The Diyarbakır organization announced that the statement would be broadcast live on giant screens to be set up at Şeyh Said Square in the Sur district.

DEM PARTY'S REQUEST FOR A VIDEO CALL

DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan, speaking at a press conference at her party's headquarters regarding the İmralı process, said, "We have previously expressed our hope that the expected historical statement, the historical call to be made after the meeting, would be delivered via video, even if some issues regarding how this historical call will be made have not yet been clarified. We have repeatedly stated that it would be better if it were via video and that the isolation maintained until today should be lifted. We have also stated that the social demand is in this direction. In other words, let us state that the impact of a visible and audible statement would be more powerful."

THE PROCESS BEGAN WITH BAHÇELİ'S CALL

Following the call by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, the DEM Party held a meeting with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan at İmralı Prison on December 28, 2024.

The party stated that the meeting took place in a sincere atmosphere and that the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) is the most appropriate platform for resolving the issue within the framework of democratic politics.

Following this meeting, contacts that began with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş on January 3 were continued with leaders and representatives of the MHP, Future Party, AK Party, Felicity Party, CHP, DEVA Party, and New Welfare Party. After these meetings, the DEM Party delegation met with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan at İmralı on December 28, 2024. The delegation stated that the meetings were promising. The second meeting between the İmralı Delegation and PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan took place on January 22.