The 18th meeting of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission was held in Parliament on Friday. During the meeting, the CHP (Republican People’s Party) announced that it would not appoint members to the delegation going to İmralı and left the meeting hall. Despite the CHP’s attempts to sabotage the meeting, the commission continued its session and decided by a majority vote to meet with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Island Prison, where he has been held since 1999. Members of the commission are expected to meet with Öcalan next week.
In a statement welcoming the commission’s decision, the co-chairs of the DEM Party, Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, said the decision was “the most concrete expression of Turkey’s democratic maturity and will for peace.”
“The upcoming visit to İmralı will be a historic step towards permanently ending decades of suffering and establishing social reconciliation. The dialogue grounds to be established in İmralı and the transparent channels of communication to be developed offer a unique window of opportunity for resolving the Kurdish question and democratizing Turkey,” said the DEM Party co-chairs, who further stated the following:
“The Commission’s visit to İmralı will open the door to a new era in Turkey; the politics of fear will be replaced by hope and confidence in coexistence. This meeting will reinforce the transparency and sincerity of the process and strengthen the participation of all segments of society in building peace.
We firmly believe that meetings with Mr. Öcalan will play a decisive role in ensuring that the process proceeds in a healthy and secure manner. We wholeheartedly congratulate the members of the Commission who will carry out this visit and express our gratitude to all political parties that have played a constructive role in the Commission’s work, as well as to Parliament Speaker Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş.
We also thank President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, who assumed political responsibility for establishing the Commission, ensuring it works in peace, recognizing the people’s demand for peace, and courageously demonstrating the will to visit İmralı, as well as our alliance partners EMEP (Labour Party) and TİP (Workers’ Party of Turkey).
The fundamental role of politics is to safeguard the common interests of the country and its people and to produce solutions. Today’s decision is a testament to precisely such a responsibility. However, we must note that we regret the distant approach of some political circles to this historic step. Courage and foresight in peace processes always deserve appreciation. Hesitations and evasions wound the social conscience. The requirement of democratic politics is to stand side by side and walk shoulder to shoulder in decisions regarding the common future of the peoples in such a historic process.
On this occasion, we once again remind everyone of their historic responsibility to strengthen the will for peace. The bold steps we take today will secure a future based on the law of brotherhood. We hope this visit will contribute to the shared future of 86 million people, our democratic and free unity, equal citizenship, and lasting peace. Building peace is our shared duty and responsibility. Although our political views may differ, we call on everyone who has a say in the future of this country to come together in the common ground of solution and peace for the sake of our shared future and the establishment of lasting peace.”