MÊRDÎN - Evgil Türker, Chair of the Assyrian Associations Federation, stated that Abdullah Öcalan's call has generated excitement among the Syriac community, saying, "We want to contribute to the process."  

 

Kurdish People's leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and a Democratic Society" and the PKK's decision to disband and disarm in line with the call have raised hopes in many quarters that the issue could be resolved on a "peaceful and democratic" basis. The hope in society is also reflected in the meetings initiated by the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party and the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) following the call. 

 

The most recent meeting was held with the Assyrians, with the aim of explaining the process, listening to expectations and demands from the process, and providing support for the process. At the meeting with the Assyrians in Mêrdîn (Mardin), the Assyrians expressed their support for the process and conveyed their demands and expectations. 

 

Evgil Türker, Chair of the Assyrian Associations Federation (SÜDEF), listed the Assyrian people's approach to the process, their expectations and demands, and called on the state to do its part. Türker stated that the Assyrians have lived alongside the Kurds for centuries and that, for this reason, the Assyrians are one of the communities most interested in Abdullah Öcalan's call. 

 

He said that the Assyrians, who had previously been forced to leave their lands, have begun to return to their lands during this process. Türker said that the Assyrians are curious about what Öcalan said, what the process is and how it will proceed: "The Assyrians also supported the Democratic Solution Process between 2013 and 2015 because they are a community that wants to live in peace. Between 2013 and 2015, the Assyrians had hope for a return. But what happened drove the Assyrians back into despair. The Assyrians are once again defending their lands and their culture. Today's call has also created excitement among the Assyrians. There is hope. There is expectation. They have particular expectations of Mr. Öcalan. Because they know Mr. Öcalan. Mr. Öcalan mentions the Assyrians in every speech and every perspective. This creates trust among the Assyrians."

 

'WE WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCESS'

 

Noting that the Syriacs also want to be part of the process, Türker said that there should be representatives of the Syriacs in the commission expected to be formed in the Assembly: "I don't know whether civil society organisations will be part of the commission or not. But at least we have a Syriac member of parliament. We want that member of parliament to be part of the commission. The demands of the Syriac community should also be voiced. The Syriac community wants to be part of this process. As a federation, we can also be part of this process. We also have demands in this regard. If the constitution is amended tomorrow, the Syriacs want to be part of the constitution-making process. We want to contribute to the process with both our people in the diaspora and our people in Turkey." 

 

'IT WAS ACHIEVED IN SYRIA, IT CAN BE ACHIEVED HERE TOO'

 

Türker stated that if everyone in Turkey is allowed to live in their own culture and language and is granted constitutional status, all peoples, especially Turkey, will "gain greatly." Türker added: "The Assyrians lived comfortably in Syria within Mr. Öcalan's democratic nation model. The Assyrians were partners in the administration of North and East Syria. They are equal to Kurds and Arabs in every aspect. The Syrians have been living this way there until today. This way of life can also be achieved here. The Assyrians saw this very well, they know it very well. That is why they value Mr. Öcalan's paradigm so much. The Assyrians will strive for this to happen here, we will strive for it, the Kurds will strive for it. Living together is very important. We achieved this in Syria. We value it. We can achieve it here too." 

 

'STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN WITHOUT DELAY'

 

Türker said that the state has obligations in the process and added: "We especially call on President Erdoğan, Devlet Bahçeli and state officials to support this process. Necessary steps should be taken. The state must get rid of those old complexes. I have never seen anyone around who would divide and break up the state. The politicians in prison, Mr Selahattin Demirtaş and other MPs and co-mayors of municipalities should be released as soon as possible. At least this would be a sign of goodwill. Apart from that, amendments to the constitution and laws should be made. The state must do its part as soon as possible. Today, you see that a war has started between Israel and Iran, even though it has not been officially declared. This will inevitably affect the whole geography. In this geography, the Republic of Turkey will be affected the most."

 

MA / Ahmet Kanbal