PKK Leader Öcalan: Let's Resolve the Kurdish Question

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Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan said, "I want to make room for the Kurds. Let's resolve the Kurdish question. I can end the situation and possibility of conflict in one week," in his meetings with his lawyers at the İmralı High-Security Type-F Prison on August 7, the Asrın Law Bureau said in a statement.

In the meeting, Öcalan discussed the historical development of Turkish-Kurdish relations, saying that both of those who call themselves "Kemalist" and "Neo-Ottomanist" approach the history and relations of the Turks and the Kurds in a coherent way, the bureau said.

"Mr. Öcalan is concerned by the current course of events that occurred because of the insistence of the politics of conflict and war. Pointing out the humanitarian, political and economic losses that have been suffered for 40 years, he has stated everyone should see that insistence on the same politics will cause more serious outcomes.

"He says that his efforts for a democratic resolution is known for having been sabotaged by the counter guerilla since the Özal [Turgut, former PM and President] era and the powers who are against a resolution have a potential to cause a war even though they are not as strong today."

"Mr. Öcalan has stated he is trying to make room for the Kurds in a way that is suitable to the historical Turkish-Kurdish relations and against the fake, fabricated and false history which is a product of the chauvinist mind.

"I am ready for resolution"

"In this framework, he said, the Kurds do not need another state but ask, 'Will the Kurds have a law?' and added he has been working for 40 years to form a Kurdish mind that pays regard to the Kurds' quest for free life, free person and free society.

"In this manner, Mr. Öcalan said, I am trying to make room for the Kurds. Let's resolve the Kurdish question. I say I can end the situation and possibility of conflict in one week. I can resolve this, I trust myself, I am ready for resolution. But the state and the mind of state should also do what is necessary."

Abdullah Öcalan met with his lawyers on May 2 for the first time in eight years. He had three further meetings on May 22, June 12 and June 18. The 13 applications by his attorneys since June 18 had not been responded for three weeks. (RT/DB/VK)