ISTANBUL - Daniela Patti, Co-Chair of Italy's Volt Party, stated that the International Peace and Democratic Society Conference was important in order to exert pressure, saying, "We need to be able to have the liberation of Mr. Ocalan as a starting point."

 

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party held the International Peace and Democratic Society Conference in Istanbul on 6-7 December. A letter from Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan read at the conference caused a great stir. Many different topics were discussed at the conference, ranging from conflict resolution to the guarantee of international mechanisms. 

 

Daniela Patti, Co-Chair of Italy's Volt Party also participated in the conference and she stated that the Kurdish struggle is not sufficiently recognised in Europe and underlined that the European Union could develop new alliances in this process. She noted that the conference took place in an atmosphere of heightened calls for peace.

 

Daniela Patti said: "This could be an opportunity to create a programme, an alliance between Europe and the Kurdish movement to truly push Turkey towards peace."  

 

‘EUROPE IS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE’

 

Daniela Patti stated that Europe is currently in a major crisis and, due to its geopolitical position, is unable to speak with a strong, united voice on issues such as war, trade and ecology. She added, “Europe is extremely dependent on Turkey in this historical moment. There are three things that are horrible and extremely expensive on which the EU is in a very strong connection with Turkey. And this is for the NATO, for the military support, this is for the Balkan route to stop the migrants and this is for the TurkStrom, for the energy gas supply." Daniela Patti also noted that, despite all this, they are pushing for change within Europe. 

 

THE PKK’S TERRORIST LABEL 

 

Daniela Patti stated that the Kurdish struggle is not sufficiently known in Europe and that it is difficult to understand the complex situation in Kurdistan, emphasising that this is also one of the reasons why the PKK is labelled a ‘terrorist organisation’. Daniela Patti said, "With the abandonment of the armed fight, this can be an opportunity to take away the ‘terrorism’ label of PKK. Also make known the fact that this is a process that wants peace and I think this is a very important thing to get to be known in Europe. Because we're really struggling with the concept of peace and I think we can be very inspired from this process."

 

KURDISH WOMEN'S STRUGGLE 

 

Daniela Patti stated that while people in Europe think women have gained many rights, this has never been the case, neither in the past nor now. She said that with the rise of right-wing regimes, women have lost their right to abortion and face problems in accessing employment and education. 

 

She stressed: "What we see that is really important from the women's Kurdish movement is the fact that actually you are developing a new vision, new model and a new way of participating in society. This is something that we are losing so this is something that we definitely can learn more from." 

 

ALLIANCE PROPOSAL 

 

Daniela Patti noted that the importance of forming pressure and alliances with international mechanisms in the conflict-resolution experiences discussed at the conference had once again become apparent. 

 

Daniela Patti concluded: "This actually could be the opportunity for having Europe as an ally for this process. I believe that in this moment European governments but especially the European Union, the European Parliament and the parties that are present in the European Union could be the alliances for building up a new process also in Kurdistan. But for all of this we need to be able to have the liberation of Mr. Ocalan as a starting point.”

 

MA / Hivda Celebi – Berivan Altan