The international conference titled “Shaping Life Together: The Resolution Process in Turkey and Prospects for the Future,” in Bonn, Germany, began on Saturday morning. It commenced with the participation of academics, politicians, researchers, and civil society representatives to discuss the “Democratic Society and Peace” process.
Organized by the Association for Peace Research (QAD), the event brings together academics, politicians, civil society actors, and experts to discuss prospects for lasting peace in Turkey and the region.
At the start of the conference, a written message from Abdullah Öcalan was read out, which he sent from his solitary confinement on the Turkish prison island of Imrali. In his message, the Kurdish leader emphasizes the need for profound social change and calls for a serious debate on the importance of democratic institutions for sustainable peace.
The message from Abdullah Öcalan reads as follows:
“I sincerely welcome this meaningful gathering of all those who believe that peace is a social construction process requiring constant effort and determination.
In this regard, the efforts of QAD, which works towards this goal, are of great importance, particularly in the context of the Kurdish question, in terms of establishing and maintaining peace. Peace is promising and valuable, not only for the Kurds but for all peoples in the region. These efforts are an important contribution that strengthens mutual understanding among peoples and nourishes the social foundation for peaceful coexistence and peace.
Such efforts should create healthy ground where different identities, different sufferings, and different dreams for the future can come together under a common horizon of peace. Peace is also a state of social consensus where justice, equality, freedom, and mutual respect are institutionalized.
The historical threshold we find ourselves at today has the potential to shape the destiny of Turkey, the Middle East, and the Kurdish community. The period we are going through presents an opportunity for a transition from a negative revolutionary process to a positive transformation phase; an opportunity to overcome conflict, exclusion, and lawlessness. This transition is not merely a political choice, but also a direction dictated by historical and universal realities.
For lasting peace and a genuine solution, rebuilding the rule of law and institutionalizing democratic politics are an indispensable necessity. In this regard, ending arbitrary practices and promptly implementing universal legal principles and the decisions of international institutions are of great importance.
I hope this conference will be a step toward increasing the possibilities for peace, deepening the paths to resolution, and opening new doors to a shared future for all peoples.
I respectfully greet everyone working for peace and wish you success in your endeavors.
Abdullah Öcalan
Imralı Island”