Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM party anticipates a pivotal announcement from Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the PKK, during a scheduled visit on Thursday. This delegation seeks to gather insights toward ending a long-standing conflict with the Turkish government and addressing Kurdish rights, amid heightened tensions due to previous failed peace talks.
The pro-Kurdish Democratic Regions Party (DEM) in Turkey anticipates a significant announcement from Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Scheduled for Thursday, a delegation will visit Ocalan, seeking his commentary on ongoing efforts to resolve years of conflict with the Turkish state, which has seen tens of thousands of casualties. This visit, authorized by the ministry of justice, represents the third such meeting in recent months.
The seven-member delegation includes Ocalan’s lawyer, Faik Ozgur Erol, and aims to obtain a peace message from the incarcerated leader. Turkish media indicate that the group prefers the message to be delivered via video rather than written text, though ministry approval for this has not yet been granted. Expectations are high that Ocalan will make a momentous declaration regarding peace initiatives, possibly influencing PKK fighters in the mountains of Northern Turkey.
Ocalan, now 75 years old, has been incarcerated since 1999 on Imrali Island. Dialogue with him emerged amid Turkey’s recalibration of relationships with the PKK, driven in part by ultra-nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli, an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Past attempts at peace negotiations collapsed in 2015, leading to a cessation of communications until recent months, which has created a delicate atmosphere of anticipation.
The upcoming meeting between the DEM party and Abdullah Ocalan represents a critical moment in the ongoing efforts to reconcile the long-standing conflict between the PKK and the Turkish government. The potential for a historic declaration from Ocalan may pave the way for renewed dialogue and efforts towards peace. However, uncertainties remain regarding the reach and effectiveness of any such declarations, reflecting the complexity of the situation.
Original Source: www.albianews.com
