Former Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Türk, commenting on the process initiated by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli’s invitation to PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to speak in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), stated that the process is still in its initial stages. Türk remarked, “As a result of these talks, a call to lay down arms could come during the second or third visit to İmralı. It’s too early to say anything definitive.”
Ahmet Türk, who was part of the delegation that met with TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and Bahçeli, as well as DEM Party Istanbul MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Van MP Pervin Buldan, who visited Abdullah Öcalan on İmralı Island on December 28 at Bahçeli’s suggestion, responded to questions from Nefes newspaper’s Aytunç Erkin.
Türk, who was removed from office by the Ministry of Interior on charges of connections to a terrorist organization and replaced by a trustee, was welcomed at the door by Bahçeli. Stating that the meeting with Bahçeli went well, Türk said, “People think that there was a pre-arranged topic and discussions were held around it. That’s not the case. This is just the beginning,” emphasizing that the process is still in its early stages.
Türk expressed their preference for Turkey to resolve its own issues without external interventions, adding:
“As a result of these discussions, a call to lay down arms might come during the second or third visit to İmralı. It’s too early to make definitive statements. The information we’ve received points in this direction as well. It appears that all political parties will be consulted, the delegation will visit İmralı again, and evaluations will be made accordingly.”
Regarding discussions of a general amnesty, Türk dismissed these as speculative, stating, “These are merely speculations. Öcalan did not raise issues like the right to hope during the meeting.”
