The Imrali delegation of the DEM Party met with CHP chairman Özgür Özel in Ankara on Monday. The meeting focused on the Turkish-Kurdish dialogue process, the work of the parliamentary “Commission for National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy,” and issues of social reconciliation in connection with the Kurdish question.
The meeting was attended by DEM Party MPs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, as well as lawyer Faik Özgür Erol from the Istanbul-based Asrın Law Office. The meeting took place at the CHP headquarters in Ankara and was followed by a joint press conference.
Özel: Hope for a just and peaceful future
In his statement, CHP leader Özgür Özel emphasized the responsibility of politicians to find ways out of social polarization. The goal, he said, is to create a climate in which all population groups can live in peace. “We hope for a tomorrow in which neither Turkish nor Kurdish children have to fear the future, in which education, security, and justice are achievable for all,” Özel said.
The CHP leader announced that the cross-party parliamentary commission preparing a final report on its work would soon enter the next phase. The deliberations are to be continued in a structured manner following a meeting with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş. “Our goal is a joint text that combines both the desire for a life without terror and for genuine democracy,” Özel said.
Sharp criticism of hostility towards Leyla Zana
Özel strongly condemned the racist and sexist insults directed at Kurdish politician Leyla Zana in public spaces. Such attacks are “unacceptable, disrespectful, and culturally incompatible with the traditions of Anatolia,” he said.
He particularly criticized the fact that political agitation was being carried out in soccer stadiums and spoke out against any form of exclusion and propaganda.
Syria and regional stability as a topic
In addition to domestic policy issues, Özel also addressed the situation in Syria. He spoke out in favor of peaceful and constitutional coexistence between all ethnic and religious groups in both Turkey and Syria. He said that stable relations between the two countries were crucial not only for the region, but also for the coexistence of the peoples along the border. “If Turkey and Syria base their relations on peace and cooperation, Turks, Kurds, and the entire region will benefit,” he said.
Buldan: “Now is the time for shared responsibility”
Pervin Buldan emphasized the importance of dialogue with the CHP. “The Kurdish question is not a party-political issue, but a challenge for society as a whole,” she said.” It is time for all political forces to take responsibility. We have experienced decades of suffering. Now we must work together to prevent this from happening again.”
Sancar: Dialogue instead of confrontation
Mithat Sancar emphasized that real change was only possible within the framework of a negotiation process. “We must understand the difference between debate and negotiation. In debate, you want to win; in negotiation, you want to understand,” he said. The talks with the CHP are an example of how, despite differences, it is possible to find common ground, he added.
Sancar emphasized that political and social consensus were of central importance in finding ways out of the current polarization. The CHP, he said, shows that it is prepared to play a constructive role in this process. “We must not leave the field to those who rely on escalation, provocation, and exclusion.”