Kılıçdaroğlu rules out talks with Öcalan

ANKARA

CHP leader dismisses the possibility to include the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, in a resolution process. DHA Photo

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has ruled out inclusion of the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, in a possible resolution process for the Kurdish issue. He suggested that the first stop for a resolution should be Parliament and a discussion with the participation of the four parties represented there.

“The problem cannot be solved with Öcalan. There is no point in trying once again the ways that were tried before. No solution came out of that. Öcalan is concerned with himself. He is trying to link the process for improvement to his own conditions, to house arrest, to his discharge,” Kılıçdaroğlu was quoted as saying in an interview published in the Oct. 24 edition of daily Milliyet.

His remarks came when he was reminded of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s remarks indicating inclusion of Öcalan in a resolution process if needed.

When asked for his own suggestion, Kılıçdaroğlu said: “The four parties should gather in Parliament and provide societal compromise for the solution of this problem. The CHP previously proposed establishing a joint parliamentary commission, the Societal Reconciliation Commission, along with a commission of “wise people,” to discuss possible methods to solve the Kurdish issue. In line with the proposal, Kılıçdaroğlu met with Erdoğan to seek his support on the initiative in the summer. However, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) chairman Devlet Bahçeli rejected the proposal, likening it to treason.

Erdoğan suggested that Kılıçdaroğlu set up a body consisting only of representatives of their two parties, leaving the MHP and Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) out of the process. Noting that the CHP asked for three months to elaborate the proposal, Erdoğan reiterated his call to the CHP on Oct. 2, saying they were “sincere” in their call. Replying to Erdoğan’s call, Kılıçdaroğlu said on the same day that they were open to further discussions. “We will meet them [again] when they come.”