Lorena Lopez de Lacalle, President of the European Free Alliance (EFA), which brings together nearly 40 political parties from 19 different countries within the European Parliament, spoke to ANF and answered questions regarding the process.
Here is part two of the interview.
So far, we have witnessed Europe remaining passive in this process. In your view, what role can Europe play? Can the European Union become an actor in this valuable process, or will it remain a passive observer as it has until now?
Today, the European Union is unfortunately operating largely within political balances shaped by right-wing and even far-right tendencies, which can push it toward inaction. However, the acceleration of historical developments once again shows that Europe can no longer remain inactive. Europe must speak and do what it does best, engage in diplomacy. The values on which the European Union is founded, peace, dialogue and respect, must come to the forefront.
Europe, and the continent as a whole, is unique in that it has overcome the devastation of two world wars. We know very well what kinds of consequences those wars had on societies. For this reason, I trust the European Union and its institutions, as well as structures such as the Council of Europe; I believe they can provide much stronger and more decisive support to the peace process.
Earlier, I spoke about political efforts and the contributions of civil society. In this process, international solidarity is also indispensable. Within the parties I represent, most of which are positioned on the center-left, this international solidarity exists. However, it is not limited to the center-left. There are also actors on the right who recognize the power of peace.
We see this more clearly today. The weakening of the far right, or the consequences it has begun to produce, particularly in parallel with developments currently seen in the United States, has led even the right to recognize the need for decisive steps toward peace.
Abdullah Öcalan offers a solution
Do the wars and chaos in the region, particularly the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, create an opportunity for this process in Turkey, or do they pose a risk of a return to full-scale conflict?
The resolution of all these conflicts lies in recognizing diversity and accepting multinationality. There are very few states in the world composed of a single nation. Even within the European Union, most countries must cooperate with others. The Kurdish people, living today across regions such as Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran, have become genuinely convinced that peace is the right path. Under these conditions, the example that the Kurdish people can offer is of great importance not only for regional but also for global stability, especially in a context of such intense wars and intercommunal conflicts.
Today, even if it is unfolding elsewhere, the process led by Abdullah Öcalan gives us hope. Because everyone is tired of war. Wars do not only lead to economic exhaustion; they also cause the complete erosion of international law and respect for human rights. Too many people, too many civilians, are losing their lives due to wars imposed upon us. This is also an important point: many of the wars we are witnessing today take place outside international law and are illegitimate.
For this reason, it is now necessary to take a clear stance and oppose them. And I believe that across the world, especially in our regions, there is a majority that wants to overcome this war-driven mindset.
Öcalan’s thesis of coexistence is a hope for all
You emphasized that resolving conflicts depends on accepting multinationality. In his latest note, Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan particularly underlines the importance of the “Coexistence” thesis. What does this approach say to those of us who are weary of war?
Coexistence is a goal that all societies should strive to achieve. Successful societies, such as Switzerland, Belgium or the Netherlands, are pluralistic structures. In these societies, not only different political views but also multiple ethnic groups and peoples live together. Therefore, this diversity must be respected.
Whenever I am asked this question, I always say the following: there is a global consensus on biodiversity. We accept that plants and animals must be protected. But biodiversity also consists of people and communities. We cannot respect the diversity of plants and animals while ignoring the diversity of peoples living on the same land.
For this reason, Abdullah Öcalan is absolutely right. The fundamental basis for the advancement of democracy lies in recognizing the existence of different nations and identities within a single state. There are also different ethnic and national identities within Turkey. The same applies to us in the Basque Country and in Spain. In Spain, this reality has been acknowledged, and we continue to work toward the constitutional recognition of multinationality.
The same demand also applies to France; for example, we advocate for the constitutional recognition of the Corsican people. In the future, we believe that Turkey should also adopt a new constitution that recognizes the diversity of the peoples living within its borders. This is of critical importance.
Abdullah Öcalan is a source of inspiration for us
This requires a strong political vision, such as the one Abdullah Öcalan possesses. Indeed, Abdullah Öcalan is a source of inspiration for many of the parties we represent, because what he says is shared by a broad segment.
We must learn to live together, because coexistence allows us to learn and to gain different perspectives. At a time when we were working together with various political forces, I made a special trip to visit José Mujica. He was the president of Uruguay at the time and led a political movement composed of very diverse elements.
We asked him: how do you keep such different components together? How can countries like Turkey or Spain achieve this? He answered: ‘It is like sewing; we take our time and stitch patiently. But once something is well stitched, it is very difficult to undo.’
In other words, building consensus is difficult, but once it is established, it becomes extremely strong. Consensus is the fundamental building block that must be worked on. And I believe that we will be able to witness this within our own generations. We will not have to wait for future generations to understand that recognizing multinationality, respecting diversity and building coexistence, to better manage shared resources, is the path that must be followed.”
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