Erdogan, pro-Kurdish MPs meet in 'new phase' of rapprochement
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, saying it was "important to consult to take the necessary steps".
Fellow DEM lawmaker Mithat Sancar said the new phase was "very important" and that they would "consult with the president and his delegation about the characteristics of this new phase and the upcoming requirements".
On Sunday, the pair said they held a "very productive" meeting with Ocalan on Imrali prison island. The jailed 76-year-old PKK founder also characterised the upcoming talks with Erdogan as "historic".
DEM has submitted a proposal to set up a parliamentary commission, which Ocalan said would "play a major role" in directing the peace process.
DEM told AFP the commission would likely be set up by mid-July.
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.
Ahead of the ceremony, spy chief Kalin was due to travel to Baghdad on Tuesday for high-level talks on the logistics of the disarmament process, the Hurriyet daily reported.
Afterwards, Kalin would meet with the parliamentary speaker Numan Kurtulmus to discuss setting up the commission, it said.
The disarmament process is expected to unfold over the coming months.
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France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Erdogan, pro-Kurdish MPs meet in 'new phase' of rapprochement
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, saying it was "important to consult to take the necessary steps". Fellow DEM lawmaker Mithat Sancar said the new phase was "very important" and that they would "consult with the president and his delegation about the characteristics of this new phase and the upcoming requirements". On Sunday, the pair said they held a "very productive" meeting with Ocalan on Imrali prison island. The jailed 76-year-old PKK founder also characterised the upcoming talks with Erdogan as "historic". DEM has submitted a proposal to set up a parliamentary commission, which Ocalan said would "play a major role" in directing the peace process. DEM told AFP the commission would likely be set up by mid-July. 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. Ahead of the ceremony, spy chief Kalin was due to travel to Baghdad on Tuesday for high-level talks on the logistics of the disarmament process, the Hurriyet daily reported. Afterwards, Kalin would meet with the parliamentary speaker Numan Kurtulmus to discuss setting up the commission, it said. The disarmament process is expected to unfold over the coming months.
France 24
2 days ago
- France 24
Syria fights fires for fourth day as Jordan sends help
Syrian emergency workers have faced tough conditions including high temperatures, strong winds, rugged mountainous terrain in the coastal province and the danger of explosive war remnants, in a country scarred by years of conflict. Jordanian civil defence teams crossed into Syria on Sunday morning, the Syrian ministry for emergency and disaster management said, as state media published footage of the convoy. Minister Raed al-Saleh said on X that "hundreds of thousands of forest trees over an estimated area of around 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) in 28 locations have turned to ash". He said some 80 teams including civil defence personnel had been battling the blaze, noting local organisations and residents were also providing assistance, along with teams and firefighting aircraft from neighbouring Jordan and Turkey. Turkey, a key backer of Syria's new authorities, sent assistance including aircraft and fire engines on Saturday. Jordan's public security directorate said in a statement that the "specialised firefighting teams from the civil defence... have been provided with all the modern equipment and machinery necessary to carry out their duties to the fullest extent". Swathes of forested area and farmland have burned and some villages evacuated as the fires raged including near the Turkish border. The United Nations deputy envoy to Syria Najat Rochdi said in a statement Sunday on X that Damascus "needs more international assistance" to face the fires. A statement from the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula said that "UN teams are on the ground conducting urgent assessments to determine the scale of the disaster and to identify the most immediate humanitarian needs". Nearly seven months after the ousting of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, Syria is still reeling from more than a decade of civil war that ravaged the country's economy, infrastructure and public services. With man-made climate change increasing the likelihood and intensity of droughts and wildfires worldwide, Syria has also been battered by heatwaves and low rainfall. In June, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation told AFP that Syria had "not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years".
France 24
3 days ago
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Turkey opens Spotify probe after 'provocative playlist' complaint
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