A conference was held at the European Parliament regarding the dialogue process between Turkey and the Kurds, with the participation of DEM Party Imralı Delegation member Mithat Sancar.
The conference was organized by EUTCC and Evin Incir, a member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament.
The opening speech of the conference was delivered by EUTCC Board Member Dr. Dersim Dağdeviren. Dağdeviren made assessments regarding the Peace and Democratic Society Process that began with Abdullah Öcalan’s call on February 27.
Andreas Schieder from the S&D Group, in his speech, referred to Öcalan as “the Mandela of the Kurds” and stated that he supports the demands of the Kurdish people.
Later, under the moderation of journalist Amberin Zaman, Mithat Sancar from the DEM Party Imralı Delegation delivered a speech.
Sancar: The process is a historic opportunity
In his speech delivered in German, Sancar stated that the process aims to resolve a fundamental and deep-rooted problem, saying, “It is about opening the paths to a solution and taking the necessary steps for it.”
Sancar noted that the process is built on a three-pillar structure and that it is currently in its first phase. Emphasizing that the goal is to build lasting peace, he underlined that the process must now be discussed in parliament and find a response on political and legal grounds.
Stating that all dimensions of the problems must now be addressed at the political level, Sancar said, “There is still much to be done ahead of us. But we must also recognize that this process is a historic one, a historic opportunity for the Kurds.”
“The process is very important for the entire region”
Pointing out that experiencing major problems and crises is inherent in such processes, Sancar said, “However, we must not forget that this process is not important only for one side, but for the entire region.”
“If a secure environment is established, it will not only mean peace; it will be a step toward freedom for the whole of Turkey and the entire region,” Sancar said, adding that other countries will also be affected by this.
“There can be no democracy without peace”
Sancar stated, “The task is important, the responsibility is great, and this truly matters,” emphasizing the need to successfully complete the process.
“Reaching peace also means reaching democracy,” Sancar said, concluding his remarks with the words: “We believe that peace and democracy are interconnected. One cannot exist without the other; democracy is of vital importance for the people.”
Dr. Işık: The issue must be placed within the right framework
Dr. Ayhan Işık, who also spoke at the conference, provided information about previous processes conducted between the Turkish state and the PKK and drew particular attention to the actors in Turkey. Asking, “Is it possible to resolve the initial problem by minimizing the number of actors?” Işık added, “For example, in the 2013–2015 period there were many different actors involved. Many parties within the state, state institutions, and various social groups were included in the process.”
Pointing out that the current situation involves fewer actors, Ayhan Işık asked, “But is this truly an opportunity for a solution, or is it a way of bypassing the issue without fully discussing it?”
Recalling that in past negotiations the policy of denial was not acknowledged and the existence of the problem was not recognized, Işık stated that the issue must be framed properly.
Mithat Sancar also answered questions from participants at the conference.
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