AKP no longer credible on Kurdish peace process: HDP committee

DİYARBAKIR – Doğan News Agency

AP photo

The İmralı committee, formed by members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) to mediate the Kurdish peace talks, says the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has lost its credibility on the Kurdish peace process and no longer gives the committee permission to meet with Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). 

In a written statement on Aug. 9, the committee said the AKP had “lost decisiveness” in permitting meetings with Öcalan as part of the Kurdish peace process officially started in 2013. It stated that for the peace process to continue, Öcalan should be able to set up negotiation meetings at times of his choice and with committees from different parts of society.

Öcalan should be given an “official status” as a negotiating party in the peace talks and necessary groundwork should be laid to “make the peace process more transparent,” the committee also added.