Demirtaş Supports Peace: 'Turks and Kurds Must Embrace'

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Former Co-Chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtash, has expressed his full support for the peace process, affirming his readiness to take any necessary steps to ensure its success.

In an interview with Duvar magazine, Demirtash addressed Abdullah Ocalan’s recent appeal for disarmament and a political resolution between the Kurdish movement and the Turkish state. 

He noted that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, and Ocalan himself have taken the initiative to restart peace efforts, adding that he is willing to do whatever is required to support the process.

Demirtash told Duvar: that, "Erdoğan, Bahçeli and Öcalan... I will do my best to ensure the success of these three leaders who have taken the initiative for peace in the Middle East and for the historic Kurdish-Turkish peace."
Call for a Political and Legal Framework

Demirtash emphasized that the goal of the initiative is to end war, armed conflict, violence, and terrorism. However, he stated that for the process to be sustainable, it requires the establishment of a comprehensive legal and political framework within the Turkish parliament.

He acknowledged the significant challenges ahead but stressed that lasting peace is possible if the majority of society believes in it and actively supports it.

Demirtash concluded, “I don't want either my soldier brother on guard duty in Gabar or my own brother in Qandil to die. Both of them should stop shooting at each other. First, let's embrace each other, Turkish and Kurdish, for the sake of millennia, and then the rest is the work of the political struggle, the work of politicians, our work.”

Ocalan’s Historic Call and PKK’s Response

On February 27, during a meeting with the İmrali delegation of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Abdullah Ocalan called on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to lay down arms and dissolve itself.

Following Ocalan’s appeal, the PKK’s Executive Committee announced on March 1 that it was declaring a ceasefire. However, the group stated that for full disbandment to occur, Ocalan must personally oversee the congress that would formalize the decision.

Rebranding of the HDP

The pro-Kurdish HDP, facing legal pressure from Turkish authorities, rebranded as the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (HEDEP) in October 2023 after merging with the Green Left Party. However, its acronym was rejected by Turkey's Court of Appeal due to similarities with banned groups like HADEP, leading to a further name change to the DEM Party in December 2023.

Uncertainty Surrounds the Next Steps

The latest developments have sparked wide-ranging discussions regarding the feasibility of a renewed peace process and the political conditions necessary for its success. While Ocalan’s call is seen as a turning point, the implementation of a comprehensive agreement remains uncertain, with all eyes on the Turkish government’s next move.