Jailed PKK leader says second phase in peace process has arrived

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

DHA Photo

The jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, Abdullah Öcalan, released a statement June 25 saying the peace process had now arrived at its second phase.

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies released Öcalan’s message, which started off assuring the continuation of the process, following their visit to İmralı island the day before.

 “To us, the process we are in is still going on. We are now in its second phase. I have already passed on our written suggestions to the state. I support transparency all throughout the steps,” Öcalan said.

Öcalan’s statement added that the issue, now a century old, had to be treated with gravity. The jailed leader also accused “certain powers” of hampering with the process, and said he would like to inform the public weekly, if the opportunity arose.

“The debate on the second phase has started. I wish everyone who sides with democracy, resolution and peace to participate in these debates,” the statement said.

BDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş and parliamentary group deputy chair Pervin Buldan visited Öcalan at İmralı on June 24.

The visit was originally planned for the weekend, but Buldan said they had to delay the visit as the Ministry of Justice had not responded to their visit demand.

During the last visit Demirtaş and Buldan paid to İmralı island on June 7, Öcalan said he “would make a comprehensive evaluation of the peace process” at the next meeting with the delegation, according to media outlets.