Use political ways, Talabani advises BDP

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has advised Turkey’s Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) to work toward a political solution to their disagreements with the government over the fight against terror and the Kurdish question and to take an active role in preparing the new charter.

The BDP delegation made up of BDP co-leaders Selahattin Demirtaş and Gültan Kışanak and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) heads Ahmet Türk and Aysel Tuğluk visited Talabani late Nov. 9. Solutions for the Kurdish issue, putting an end to cross border operations, stopping Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) arrests and ending the isolation of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan were discussed during visit.

The delegation was said to have asked Talabani to help mediate between the BDP and the Turkish government regarding these issues in order to find a political solution.

The main message Talibani gave the BDP was to solve the PKK issue through peace, not military intervention and cross-border operations.

“We do not support any solution that involves guns. Kurdish people can no longer achieve anything with guns. The PKK needs to declare a permanent cease-fire” Talibani reportedly told the BDP leaders.

Speaking for the delegation was Ahmet Türk, who told Talibani they too wanted a permanent cease-fire, but that the Turkish government had failed to keep its promises.

“They are not giving us the chance to participate in politics,” Türk reportedly said, citing the KCK case as the roadblock. “Otherwise, there is nothing preventing us from solving this issue during the new-constitution period. There are steps both the BDP and the government have to take.”

In the meantime, the BDP plans to convene in Diyarbakır by next week to determine their road map. Party leaders will meet with provincial chairmen today, municipal mayors tomorrow and the party assembly on Nov. 13.

The trials against the KCK started last year with 150 defendants, including influential Diyarbakır Mayor Osman Baydemir and many local politicians who support Kurdish rights, being put on trial.

Some 100 defendants have been under arrest for nearly 18 months. The case is in a deadlock because the court refuses to allow the suspects to give testimony in Kurdish.