A three-party delegation from the Turkish Parliament's National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission visited İmralı Island to meet with Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK terrorist organization.
The delegation included Hüseyin Yayman from the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Feti Yıldız from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and Gülistan Koçyiğit from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party).
How the meeting proceeded, as well as whether another meeting is expected and finally, whether the Republican People's Party (CHP) will also participate, is of interest.
Regarding the issue, speaking to Modern.az, Şamil Ayrım, a deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, stated that the commission established regarding the İmralı meetings will have information:
“A commission has been established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey regarding a Turkey without terrorism. This commission has been holding discussions with many segments for approximately 3-4 months. As a result, the commission decided to go to İmralı. Those meetings also took place. The commission has not yet made any public statement. We are waiting for the commission to convene and analyze the meetings. After this, a roadmap will be determined. Everything is normal. Turkey wants to be rid of this scourge. This is our sole objective. The commission will convene today or tomorrow. Information regarding the essence of the meeting has not been disclosed to the public. They will disclose that information in the coming days. We will all see the results.”
However, the Republican People's Party's foreign policy coordinator, İlhan Üzgel, stated that the CHP has supported a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue from the very beginning:
“In this matter, we have principles that we have established since the past. Our principles include:
- The Parliament must be the center of the solution;
- Steps must be taken within the framework of law;
- The process must be conducted as transparently as possible;
- There must be societal consensus;
Our party leader advocates for a solution that will not disturb martyrs and veterans. It is precisely for this reason that we both supported the process and provided a member to the Parliament's commission.
Currently, within the framework of the processes, state officials and relevant institutions are in contact with Öcalan. We know that he makes statements under state supervision and that these are published. Öcalan has the opportunity to convey his thoughts to the commission and he utilizes this opportunity. From this perspective, it was not a prerequisite for the people's elected deputies to visit Öcalan. Society does not want this.
Reducing the solution of the Kurdish problem to the level of meeting with Öcalan or the CHP providing a member to the delegation is not the correct approach. This is a matter of an individual. The CHP is not obliged to follow the line set by other parties. It can make its own choice and has made its own choice.”
İ. Üzgel stated that he does not believe the parliamentary delegation will visit Öcalan again:
“In the AK Party, they know that our people are against this visit. Pro-government media ignored this visit and did not report on it.”
