In a significant political development, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli reportedly held a phone conversation with Selahattin Demirtaş, the imprisoned former co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), to express his appreciation for Demirtaş’s support in the latest peace initiative.
According to Turkish media, the conversation took place yesterday, following Demirtaş’s written statement endorsing the ongoing process of reconciliation. Sources claim that Bahçeli acknowledged Demirtaş’s contributions to the dialogue and thanked him for his efforts in fostering a peaceful resolution.
Background: The Peace Initiative Gains Momentum
The conversation follows a pivotal call made by Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), urging the PKK to lay down arms and dissolve itself. This message, conveyed through a delegation from the DEM Party after their third visit to İmralı Prison, was publicly released in both Turkish and Kurdish.
In his statement, Öcalan underscored the need for a transition towards a democratic society, aligning with efforts from Turkish political leaders.
“The call made by Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, alongside the determination of Mr. President and the positive stance of other political parties, has created an atmosphere for disarmament. I take on the historical responsibility of this call. The PKK must convene its congress, take a decision to disarm, and dissolve itself to fully integrate with the state and society,” Öcalan stated.
Bahçeli’s Response: A Historic Turning Point
In a separate statement, Bahçeli described the declaration from İmralı as “valuable and significant,” emphasizing the need for a terror-free and peaceful Turkey.
“The Turkish nation is writing a new history. A terror-free Turkey, a peaceful Turkey, a superpower Turkey is not a goal for the distant future – it is a goal that must be achieved immediately and is entrusted to our political honor,” he stated.
He also noted that statements from the PKK’s headquarters in Kandil, which supported Öcalan’s call, were encouraging and complementary to the broader peace process.
Demirtaş: ‘I Will Do Everything I Can’
Selahattin Demirtaş had previously expressed his commitment to the process in an article titled “Let’s Stand by Peace” for Gazete Duvar. In his message, he highlighted the roles of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Devlet Bahçeli, and Abdullah Öcalan as key figures in the reconciliation effort.
“May God grant them all long and healthy lives. However, as these three leaders take the initiative for Middle East peace and the historic Kurdish-Turkish reconciliation, I will go beyond what I can do to support their success,” Demirtaş wrote.
A Path Toward Lasting Peace?
This unprecedented dialogue between political rivals, coupled with Öcalan’s call for disarmament, has sparked hopes for a historic shift in Turkey’s approach to the Kurdish issue. However, analysts caution that challenges remain, particularly in ensuring the participation of all factions in a structured peace process.
As the developments unfold, the question remains whether this marks the beginning of a new era for Turkey or if hurdles will derail the process before tangible peace is achieved.
