ISTANBUL – Speaking at the “Paving Way for Peace” conference, Bülent Arınç reminded Bahçeli’s call to Öcalan and said, “Why should he speak in Parliament? Let him speak on the streets.” Politician Gültan Kışanak said, “Let’s create social negotiation tables.”

 

Ayça Atçı, member of the Board of Directors of the Caucasian Associations Federation, was the first to speak at the first session, saying that she was speaking on behalf of everyone whose voices were not being heard. Ayça Atçı stated that peace is not just the silence of weapons, and that although Circassians face difficulties, they have never given up their resistance. Ayça Atçı said that she does not know her mother tongue and emphasised that she wants to live in peace.

 

ARINÇ: ÖCALAN SHOULD SPEAK IN THE STREETS 

 

Former Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç began his remarks by mentioning Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a member of the DEM Party’s İmralı Delegation, and said: “Bahçeli made a very bold statement. People on the street only think about that. But I looked into what was behing that statement. He said, ‘Let Öcalan some and speak in Parliament on behalf of the DEM Party group. I thought an amnesty would be granted, but it was not. Second, why should he speak in Parliament? Let him speak on the street. But I could not find the answer to that either. Later the Parliament issue was deemed inappropriate, and they said to Kandil, ‘Come to Malazgirt’. Surprise upon surprise. Fortunately, the opposing parties turned out to be smarter. Bahçeli's party is also surprised, but they are not questioning it. Those who talk about Turkey's chronic problem should do something positive. He thought Bahçeli would suffer for saying this. But I didn't read it that way. Because those who do good deeds receive support. It was the same when we started the process. Our side's motto was ‘Turkey without terrorism’. Terrorism does not arise on its own. We need to fight the voices that give rise to terrorism. Bahçeli is raising his hand, but I don't know what is being done on the other side. They are saying, ‘Let's set up a 100-member commission in Parliament.’ If we don't get hung up on the number, it is very important that this be done under the supervision of Parliament. Do we know what Erdoğan thinks? No. But it is important that a commission be set up."

 

SOCIAL NEGOTIATION TABLES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED 

 

Politician Gültan Kışanak said that coexistence is important and that peace will be achieved through this, emphasised that we should not be ‘hopeless’ about the process and reminded us that the mothers of those who lost their lives due to the Kurdish issue want peace. Noting that the government has not taken any steps despite calls, Gültan Kışanak said: "We have not yet seen any concrete steps, such as Mr. Öcalan's call for the PKK to lay down its arms. There is currently a parliamentary commission. Of course, it is important to discuss it thoroughly and establish it. We must establish negotiation tables not only in one place but everywhere. Let's create social negotiation tables. The responsibility here belongs to all of us. All political parties should strive to change their bases, they should want both peace and democracy. We know what happened to the CHP. For example, rallies are held every day in the name of defending democracy. Why is the solution to the Kurdish issue not demanded at those rallies? Why don't we want both together?"

 

Hikmet Çetin, former General Chair of the CHP, also stated that the process cannot succeed without democracy and human rights, and called for respect for human rights.

 

Mustafa Arslan, Chair of the Alevi Bektaşi Federation, emphasised that peace should not be expected from those in power, but that it should be a social struggle. Arslan noted that not only Kurds, but also Syriacs, Armenians, Alevis and women have problems, and that these problems must also be solved. 

 

The conference then moved on to its second session.

 

SOCIETY IS NOT AGAINST THE PROCESS

 

CHP Party Assembly member Emine Uçak Erdoğan emphasised that the country has many problems and the Kurdish issue is one of them. Stating that the society is not against the process, Emine Uçak Erdoğan emphasised that all segments of society should take part in the process.

 

Writer Erdoğan Aydın pointed out that the reason why the process was initiated by Bahçeli was due to the change of powers in the region. Aydın noted that the Kurdish movement's gains in Rojava and the Iranian Kurdistan's line were also justified due to the developments in Iran. Aydın said: "They now stand in a position that recognises the existence of Kurds. The social opposition must be in a position to act together. The CHP's participation in the process will destroy this instrumentalisation. The fact that the media supporting the CHP is still defending the retired soldiers and the ideology of the establishment, so to speak, pulling Özel and İmamoğlu back, stands as a serious problem. Involving different victims and minorities will also prevent the process from being instrumentalised."

 

Feride Eralp from the Peace I Need Women's Initiative reminded that attacks on the opposition, women and LGBTIs continue, and said that it is no coincidence that 2025 was declared the "Year of the Family". Feride Eralp said, "The family is brought before us in the context of this internal front. Therefore, women's concerns are here.”

 

PARLIAMENT SHOULD STEP IN

 

DEM Party Deputy Co-Chair Tayyip Temel stated that the Kurdish movement has become a great power in the Middle East. Tayyip Temel reminded that the government knew this and made the call because it was weakened. 

 

Emphasising that the practical development of the process started with the call of Abdullah Öcalan and that he sent letters to include the whole society, Tayyip Temel said, "This call is a call that prioritises democracy. Most people say 'What will be given and what will be taken in this process?' However, the main purpose of the issue is war, the aim is to get rid of the rebellion. The main goal is not to give up the struggle, but to change the method of struggle. It is to pave the way for the legal and social part of the struggle. The forces of democracy in Turkey criticise the PKK for saying that the time for armed struggle is over. However, at the stage we have reached, we are confronted with an endeavour that adopts a new field of struggle, a struggle side by side in peace. This is the aim of both the Kurdish political movement and Öcalan. When we look at what needs to be done, it is normal that some of the talks between the state, the PKK and Mr Öcalan are confidential. However, it is important for the Parliament to step in in order to formulate the parts of the work that concern the society. If the parliament steps in, all politics will take responsibility."