Statement on Abdullah Öcalan from AKP's Mehmet Metiner

As discussions continue regarding whether a 'new solution process' is on the horizon—a topic sparked by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli shaking hands with the DEM Party group in Parliament recently and fueled by AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's support for Bahçeli—former AKP MP Mehmet Metiner has made remarks that are set to stir debate.

Speaking to Euronews Turkish, Metiner said, "The AK Party is a party that has viewed the gains of Kurds in northern Iraq as its own gains, and it could adopt a similar stance for Syria. Of course, an autonomous region similar to the one in Iraq could be established in northern Syria. If the Syrian people reach this decision, Ankara would never object. Turkey is the state not only of the Turks but also of the Kurds. The gains of our Kurdish brothers only bring us satisfaction."

Metiner continued his remarks as follows: "The distinction that must be made here is this: The PKK has established a sovereignty there through the force of arms. They have intimidated even the Kurds who are the indigenous people of that region. Saying 'yes' to a PKK state that could result in the captivity of hundreds of thousands of Kurds who do not think like the PKK is not an acceptable behavior. The portrayal of the AK Party as if it were anti-Kurdish must be abandoned immediately."

"I FIND NO HARM IN A MEETING"

In the continuation of his speech, Metiner said: "I find no harm in Ankara meeting with Öcalan. I would find it useful if Öcalan, in this process, were to voice any criticisms he might have regarding the PYD in northern Syria, which is being used against Turkey. I would find it meaningful for DEM politics to position itself alongside Palestine and Turkey in the new era, instead of the US-Israel alliance."

"I DO NOT THINK ÖCALAN WILL HAVE AN EFFECT"

"I do not think Abdullah Öcalan will have an effect on the PKK laying down its arms because there is no response to this in Qandil. We are talking about a PKK where all the strings are in the hands of Israel and the US. I am of the opinion that initiating a process focused on laying down arms would not be correct, that it would not find a response, and that the PKK leadership could not do this even if they wanted to. A process that starts solely on the basis of making the PKK lay down its arms, without a political climate being formed, would cause Turkey to lose a great deal."

News Source: 12punto

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