ISTANBUL - Erol Katırcıoğlu, one of the signatories of the "Call to Peace" declaration, stated that all segments of society that call the Kurds "my brothers/sisters" should focus on the Kurdish issue and noted that PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan should be consulted on the solution of the problems.

 

The other day in Istanbul, 78 people, including journalists, politicians, intellectuals and writers, announced the "Call to Peace" declaration. While the declaration emphasized that the construction of peace is "the most urgent human duty", the importance of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan in this construction was emphasized. In the declaration, it was also drew attention that the main interlocutor in the solution of the Kurdish issue is Abdullah Öcalan, and a call was made for the solution of the issue through democratic and peaceful methods. One of the signatories, politician Erol Katırcıoğlu, evaluated the declaration to the Mezopotamya Agency (MA).

 

'THE MAIN INTERLOCUTORS ARE TURKS'

 

Emphasizing that necessary steps should be taken to solve the Kurdish issue, Katırcıoğlu said: "Turkey's relationship with democracy is directly linked to what will happen to the Kurds. There is no democracy in Turkey.  Social freedom is a right that can be exercised to the extent that it is under the control of the government and has the approval of the government. Everyone, especially the Turks, who really want to live freely in this country, must solve the issue of the Kurds, whom they say are their brothers. If we solve the Kurdish issue, Turkey will become democratized, but if not, it will evolve towards a more fascistic direction. I think our main interlocutors are the Turks. If Turkey can empathize with the Palestinians, why can't you with the Kurds? This is a people with demands; therefore, if democracy is desired in the country, Turkey is obliged to fulfill the demands of these people." 

 

'THE OPINION OF ÖCALAN SHOULD BE CONSULTED'

 

Emphasizing that PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan is an important actor in solving the issues in Turkey, Katırcıoğlu said: "The opinion of Öcalan should be consulted. The opinion of Öcalan should be taken from Abdullah Öcalan in solving the issues. Öcalan should be listened to in order to solve the problems. I say this as one of the people of Turkey because Öcalan is a person who really deserves this. There is no other person in the century we live in who has thought about these issues as much as he does; therefore, it is necessary to listen to him and get his thoughts."

 

In this sense, Katırcıoğlu stated that the government should put the issue of a "solution process" on the agenda again and said: "Negotiations that consider the interests of the Kurdish people and will ensure the liberation of the Kurdish people should begin as soon as possible."

 

MA / Rukiye Adıgüzel