Initiated for the solution of the Kurdish issue the Peace and Democratic Society Process was limited to the steps taken by the PKK following the call of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan. Despite the passage of a year, the state has not taken any steps other than the establishment of the National Solidarity and Democracy Commission in the Parliament. The commission has so far failed to go beyond listening to the parties. 

 

Ozer said that in the process that followed the hand extended by Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli in October 2024, the attitudes of Bahçeli, the government and the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party were different. 

 

He said: “The hand extended by Bahçeli, and therefore by the government, was a call for the disarmament of the armed forces. In my opinion, this call was not fulfilled. Who will lay down their arms, what kind of legal procedures will be carried out? In the current judicial structure, Article 69 will be applied as a mitigating circumstance with the judgement to be handed down as a result. This does not make sense either. If a solution is proposed, then the state must also take steps.”

 

'LAWS MUST BE AMENDED' 

 

Stating that the state should amend the laws and respond to the steps taken, Ozer said: "If peace is to be achieved in Turkey, a general amnesty can be considered. The state should find a way to soften this. Administrative levels and governments should think about this. This cannot be done unilaterally." 

 

Stating that a policy of détente should be pursued in case PKK groups come to Turkey, Özer said that this détente has not been seen in Turkey. "For this reason, I think no benefit can be obtained from unilateral détente," he added.

 

NEGOTIATIONS WITH ABDULLAH ÖCALAN

 

Ozer draw attention to the fact that the longer the process goes on, the more the problems multiply and become insurmountable: "For this reason, it is the sovereign powers that will show the will to solve the existing problems. The representatives of the Kurdish people are saying something to the state. If you want to solve a problem, you will meet with its main elements.” 

 

He added: “If I were in the place of those who govern the state, if I want to solve this issue completely, if I want to remove it from the public agenda, I would deal directly with him (Abdullah Öcalan). There is no logic in bringing up again and again what was done in the past. Society does not want this either. Society, especially the Kurds, wants a softening. But the state has not given a reflex to this so far. It is not known what Abdullah Öcalan will do, what kind of attitude he will take, what kind of messages he will give to the public. Because there is no contact. There is no healthy communication. It is necessary to ensure this."

 

'ONE-SIDED DOES NOT WORK'

 

Emphasising that the will of both the state and the Kurds should be concentrated towards a solution, Ozer said that otherwise it would be very difficult to reach a result. 

 

Pointing out that everyone has a responsibility for the success of the process, Ozer said: "As far as I can see, the Kurdish side is very serious about this issue. It is taking the initiative to solve this problem and is ready to make sacrifices. But what is important is how the state, which is the opponent of this, will develop an attitude on this issue." 

 

MA / Rukiye Payiz Adıguzel