DEM Party Co-Chair Bakırhan called for developing a common political approach in the face of developments in the Middle East at a meeting held in Diyarbakır attended by Kurdish political parties and institutions. Bakırhan drew attention to the importance of uniting around common demands despite different ideological views.
“THERE IS A NEED FOR A COMMON MIND, A COMMON WORD”
Stating that new balances are forming in the Middle East, Bakırhan said, “We are all together living through a process in which the Middle East is being rebuilt, equations and balances are being formed anew, and Kurdistan is at the center of this construction process. Because the pieces there have not yet fallen into place, the issue regarding Iran has not yet been resolved. There is an agreement in Rojava, but it has not yet settled on a clear ground.”
Saying that Kurdish political parties and institutions in Turkey also need to put forward their views in this process, Bakırhan said, “I want to state that in this process we are talking about, in which we are at the center in the Middle East, there is a need for a common mind, a common word, a common approach. Despite having separate ideological and political perspectives, I believe there is no self-criticism for not being together while the Middle East is being rebuilt and for not putting forward a common practice and production.”
“FOR THE FIRST TIME IT IS BEING DISCUSSED ON A LEGAL AND POLITICAL GROUND”
Stating that the Kurdish issue is being discussed for the first time in Parliament within a legal framework, Bakırhan used the expressions, “A century-old issue is being discussed for the first time on the ground of Parliament, on a legal ground. We attach importance to it. Whether it is sufficient or not, whether it is sincere or not, we will carry out those discussions together.”
Bakırhan emphasized that the process should not be seen as a process conducted only between one party and the government and the state. Stating that if the process fails, what this will cost Kurdish politics should also be discussed, Bakırhan said, “If we fail, will we grow, will we become stronger, will our people’s hope increase further? There is great benefit in talking about these matters.”
“NOW IS THE TIME FOR NEGOTIATION IN PARLIAMENT”
Saying that the first stage of the process is nearing its end, Bakırhan said, “We have passed the first stage, we have come toward its end. The first stage was the elimination of the PKK’s problems. That work has almost reached completion. Now is the time for negotiation in Parliament, the time for Parliament to pass new laws, the time to talk about the democratic rights and freedoms of Kurds.”
Stating that in the second stage mother tongue, local administrations and changes to existing laws should be addressed, Bakırhan called on all Kurdish political parties to take responsibility on this issue. Bakırhan said, “In the second stage, we can say ‘These are not only DEM Party’s demands, but the demands of all Kurds.’ After a hundred years, we have caught such a process for the first time, and we need to attach importance to it.”
“THERE IS A SLOWDOWN IN THE PACE OF THE PROCESS”
Stating that it is necessary to say openly that there is a slowdown in the process, Bakırhan listed the steps the government could take as follows:
“There is a slowdown in the pace of the process. It is necessary to say this here openly. There is a slowdown. How can this slowdown be overcome? Very clearly, in the places we go, they say ‘The state must take concrete steps. Unilateral steps have been taken sufficiently; now the government also needs to take concrete steps on this issue.’ What could these concrete steps be? First of all, the living, communication and working conditions of Mr. Öcalan... The representatives of our Kurdish parties and formations should be able to go and discuss with Mr. Öcalan and present their criticisms and suggestions. The obstacles in front of this must be removed.”
Bakırhan also argued that the “Peace and Politicization Board,” which he said was recorded by a law passed by Parliament, must work actively. Saying that the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Constitutional Court (AYM) must be implemented, the trustee practice must end, and pressure on the press must be removed, Bakırhan said, “There is no need for a confirmation and determination report for this. We all need to ask together the question of why Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ are not being released. There is an ECHR decision. The ECHR decision has nothing to do with a determination report.” Bakırhan also claimed that there is no need for a report for elected administrators to return to their duties in municipalities where trustees have been appointed.
“ONE PHOTOGRAPH IS NOT ENOUGH”
Also referring to a conference they had previously attended where different actors in the Middle East came together, Bakırhan recounted that at the conference a photograph came to the fore regarding the process in Turkey, developments in northern Syria, and the unification of the armed forces of 2 parties in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government. Stating that this photograph was received positively by the people, Bakırhan said, “One photograph is not enough; we need to be side by side more. One photograph is not enough; we need to create its diplomacy, politics and practice together in the field as well.”
“OUR UNITY SHOULD BE LIKE THE TEN-EYED BRIDGE”
In his speech, Bakırhan gave the historic Ten-Eyed Bridge in Diyarbakır as an example and made a call for unity through the bridge, which he stated was built about 900 years ago during the Marwanid period. Bakırhan used the expressions, “It has ten eyes, but its heart is common; it carries the load passing over it together, endures together, resists together. If you pull the leg of even one of the ten eyes from there, believe me, it can collapse very easily. Our unity should be like the Ten-Eyed Bridge. We came from separate roads; we respect this, and it should be so, but we can go in the same direction.”