President Barzani is asked to mediate PKK-Turkey dispute

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Kurdistan24) - On Thursday, a former Turkish parliamentarian and the chairman of a pro-Kurdish opposition party in Turkey called upon the Kurdistan Region President, Masoud Barzani, to mediate between Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Turkey to end the conflict.

Speaking to Kurdistan24, Ahmet Turk, the leader of the former pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) in Turkey, said, “Any efforts exerted to stop the fighting and to seek peace between the conflicting powers would be great and highly appreciated.”

“In this regard, I call upon the Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani to play an effective role to mediate between the powers [PKK and Turkey] to end the war,” he said.

Turk expressed his optimism, saying Kurds put aside political rifts when they face a calamity. “I am hopeful that Kurds everywhere show a sense of solidarity and cooperation in all parts of Greater Kurdistan,” he said.

“If the world is silence and is turning a blind eye to what is happening to Kurds in Bakur [Turkey's Kurdistan], I hope Kurds in Rojava [Syrian Kurdistan] and Bashur [Iraqi Kurdistan Region] spread the truth around the world,” Turk said.

He concluded that Kurds are in dire need for dialogue because “it is important for both sides to work for a truce, for peace talks, for dialogue.”

“History has shown us that when there’s a political problem, it cannot be solved militarily,” he concluded.

In Dec 2009, Turkey's Constitutional Court (Turkey's top court) voted unanimously to ban the DTP, claiming it has links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Reporting by Hisham Arafat

Editing by Ava Homa