Erdogan, pro-Kurdish MPs meet in ‘new phase' of reconciliation
ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish DEM party Monday to discuss the next steps after PKK militants agreed to end their decades-long insurgency.
DEM, Turkey's third-biggest party, has played a key role in facilitating an emerging peace deal between the government and jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, whose Kurdish militant group is expected to begin laying down its weapons later this week. The meeting, which lasted just over an hour, brought together Erdogan, Efkan Ala, a senior figure in his ruling AKP, and spy chief Ibrahim Kalin with DEM lawmakers Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar. 'Our delegation conveyed their views and suggestions on the new stage the process has reached and what to do next,' the DEM lawmakers said in a brief statement after the talks.
DEM lawmaker Buldan called the meeting 'historic'.
'The process is now entering a new phase in which consultations are needed,' she told reporters before the meeting. 'It is important to consult to take the necessary steps,' she added, saying the sides would 'exchange views'.
Fellow DEM lawmaker Mithat Sancar said the new phase was 'very important' and that they would use the meeting to 'share our views' and to 'listen to them'.
'We will consult with the president and his delegation about the characteristics of this new phase and the upcoming requirements.' On Sunday, the pair held a 'very productive' meeting with Ocalan on Imrali prison island. The jailed 76-year-old PKK founder also characterized the upcoming talks with Erdogan as 'historic'.
He told them a parliamentary commission being set up would 'play a major role' in directing the peace process. The meeting came as the PKK was to hold a ceremony in Iraqi Kurdistan to start destroying a first tranche of weapons — which will likely take place on or around July 10-12.
Erdogan said the move would give momentum to peace efforts with the Kurds. The disarmament process is expected to unfold over the coming months. — AFP
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