31.03.2026 10:40
The DEM Party shared a statement regarding its hours-long meeting with Abdullah Öcalan. Öcalan stated, "It is the line of democracy and common living that we advocate through the Peace and Democratic Society Process. Developments in Iran have once again highlighted the legitimacy and importance of the process being carried out in Turkey."
DEM Party published a written statement regarding the meeting with Abdullah Öcalan, which took place on Imralı Island and lasted for hours.
REMINDER OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK
The statement from the DEM Party Imralı Delegation stated, "On March 27, 2026, we held a meeting on Imralı Island as part of our discussions with Mr. Abdullah Öcalan. It has been clearly observed that the process has reached an important threshold. At this point, it has been indicated that the path to a solution is a multi-layered issue that should be evaluated together with negotiation, democratic will, and historical responsibility. The historical duty and responsibility undertaken by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in this process has been pointed out; it has been emphasized that it is vital to ensure that the work to be carried out following the Commission report is brought to a comprehensive and holistic legal framework without delay. In our evaluations as a delegation, it has emerged as a common view that it is necessary to keep dialogue channels open and strengthen democratic politics to avoid missing historical opportunities and to realize the genuine will for a solution. It has been reiterated that a democratic society is the guarantee of the future for all peoples and beliefs living in Turkey. We believe that everyone who understands this process correctly and approaches it responsibly will not only gain today but also our common future."
ÖCALAN'S MESSAGE
Mr. Öcalan's evaluations during the meeting are summarized as follows:
“This great problem we are trying to solve should not be approached narrowly. Because there are deep hegemonic plans over the Middle East. While there are certain positive developments alongside painful situations in Syria, the Iran war is now on the agenda. Three lines have emerged in the Iran war: The first is the US-Israel line. The second is the line of some international and regional powers led by the UK that aims to maintain the status quo. The third is the line of democracy and common living that we defend with the Peace and Democratic Society Process we have developed. Developments in Iran have once again highlighted the legitimacy and importance of the process being carried out in Turkey.
"THE SECURITY OF ANATOLIA PASSES THROUGH THE MIDDLE EAST AND MESOPOTAMIA"
We base our solution on an Anatolia-Mesopotamia axis. The relationship between Anatolia and Mesopotamia has deep historical roots. The first great peace agreement in history was the Treaty of Kadesh between the Hittites and the Egyptians. The four-thousand-year political history in the Middle East has shown that the security of Anatolia passes through the Middle East and Mesopotamia. Democratic integration expresses the participation of Mesopotamian culture as a democratic entity. We have no problem with the Republic. The main issue is the lack of democracy in the Republic. Democracy is the only solution that will strengthen the Republic. It should not be surprising to express the mistakes, extremities, and anti-democratic practices of societies and countries in their historical periods, as if touching the sacred. It must be said that the defense of assimilationist methods with a positivist belief is a narrow shirt imposed on the country.
"THE PERIOD OF ARMED STRUGGLE HAS ENDED"
"As I stated in my call on February 27, the period of armed struggle has ended. There is no possibility of going back now. The process we are experiencing is a transition to peace with a Democratic Republic. When the desired process succeeds, the Republic will be strengthened twofold. The democratic society we speak of largely bases itself on such a solution. We must develop a sense of community and citizenship that positively regulates the relationship of the Kurds with the state. The state should also see that there is no situation like destructive activity or security threat here. Participation in the Republic should be with identity, freedom of expression and thought, freedom of organization, and women's freedom. These are areas of freedom that apply not only to the Kurds but to everyone. At this point, I find it important to reach the public with appropriate methods for my ideas regarding the process to be understood correctly. “The democratic integration solution is based on a community-based approach. A community-based solution requires the holistic and collective democratization of social structures.”