It was reflected in the records: Here is the name that Öcalan referred to as the "Turk at the head of the PKK."

24.01.2026 14:00

The minutes of the visit to Imralı by three members of the National Solidarity Brotherhood and Democracy Commission in November have been published. In the minutes, Öcalan, who spoke about the ethnic structure within the terrorist organization PKK, stated that Duran Kalkan, of Turkish origin, is at the head of the leadership cadre in Qandil and that there has always been a significant presence of a Turkish-origin group within the organization.

On November 24, 2025, the minutes of the visit to Imralı by MHP Deputy Chairman Feti Yıldız, DEM Party Group Deputy Chairman Gülistan Kılıç, and AK Party Deputy Chairman Hüseyin Yayman were published. The 16-page minutes, which made headlines, contained striking statements.

DESCRIBED MAZLUM ABDI AS A CLOSE PERSON

According to the minutes, Öcalan stated that neither the Ibrahim Agreement proposed by Israel nor the Shia project proposed by Iran was suitable for Syria, emphasizing the importance of democratic integration instead. He noted that the commander of the terrorist organization SDG, Mazlum Abdi, was one of his closest associates. The minutes also included statements such as, "He did not say anything about a unitary state in Syria, but stated that there should never be local democracy and civil society."

"KURDISH STATEHOOD" OUTBURST

The minutes also included Öcalan's words that "Kurdish statehood is needed for Israel, otherwise it will not be able to survive and establish hegemony."

"THERE IS A TURK AT THE HEAD OF PKK"

Speaking about the ethnic structure within the terrorist organization PKK, Öcalan stated that Duran Kalkan, of Turkish origin, is at the head of the leadership cadre in Kandil and that there has always been a significant presence of a Turkish-origin group within the organization.

"I WAS YOUNG DURING ÖZAL'S TIME, I KIDNAPPED"

Öcalan, who stated that he has been in contact with the state since 1992 for the essence of the terrorism issue, also revealed the previously secret diplomatic traffic during the periods of Turgut Özal, Süleyman Demirel, and Necmettin Erbakan. Evaluating the peace initiatives during the presidency of Turgut Özal, Öcalan made a striking self-criticism, stating that he understood the value of the suggestions made to him years later. He mentioned that Özal told him, "Not everything he did was wrong, and if he continued the armed struggle, all his efforts would be in vain," and he thought about it but was late, expressing that he was "young" at that time.

WHO IS DURAN KALKAN?

Duran Kalkan was born on January 1, 1954, in the village of Güzelim, located in the Tufanbeyli district of Adana, as the child of Yusuf and Safiye, a Turkish-origin couple who migrated from Erzurum.