Speaking at the opening of the new legislative year of the Parliament, “Israeli aggression includes Turkey” said Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli shook hands with Tuncer Bakırhan, Co-Chair of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), immediately after Erdoğan's speech. Afterwards, Bahçeli appeared in front of the cameras and said: “We are entering a new era. While we want peace in the world, we need to ensure peace in our own country.” 

 

Then, Erdoğan made a succession of statements of support for Bahçeli. “We do not avoid any dialog that will benefit the nation. We hope that the value of the hand extended by the People's Alliance will be duly understood by its interlocutors” he said.  

 

Answering the questions of journalists after his visit to Serbia, Erdoğan reiterated his support for Bahçeli by saying, “Considering the developments in our region, it is best for everyone to strengthen the climate of peace and tranquility in our country.” 

 

Responding to Devlet Bahçeli's statements about their party, “Turkey needs internal peace. We will also follow the steps to be taken” said DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları.

 

DEM Party officials also pointed to PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is held in absolute isolation in İmralı, as a solution to the Kurdish issue. 

 

As the discussions continued, Bahçeli's handshake with the deputies of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) in 2007 and PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan's comments after the handshake came to mind. 

 

ÖCALAN: NO SYMBOLIC HANDSHAKE

 

In a 2007 lawyer meeting, PKK Leader Öcalan also drew attention to Bahçeli's handshake with DTP members, saying, “As for the handshake in the parliament, it never even crossed my mind. They shake hands with the MHP, but you can't have random politics like that. Politics must be principled. This point is important in this regard: Is the handshake about the existence of Kurds and recognizing their rights? I don't know what Devlet Bahçeli's view of the Kurds is, what kind of nationalism he has. It is necessary to know these views.” 

 

In the same meeting, Abdullah Öcalan emphasized the following: “Without knowing all these things, there cannot be a handshake just for symbolic reasons, if this happens, politics will become corrupt. Does Devlet Bahçeli accept the existence and rights of Kurds? If he does, then a relation can be established. Otherwise it would be unprincipled. There is no politics without principles. Kurds need very principled politics.”

 

Abdullah Öcalan emphasized “solution” in the said conversation and said the following: “What does Bahçeli think about these issues and the Kurdish issue in general, do they have a policy towards a solution or do they insist on denial? What are Bahçeli's views on this issue, were they discussed? If he denies you, on what basis can you meet with him? Can you embrace a mentality that denies and ignores you? I'm not saying there will be no reconciliation, no handshake. It is important on what basis this happens. If there is a will for a solution, if there is sincerity, if there is a brotherly attitude, we can shake hands and embrace. I don't use M. Kemal as an example for nothing. During the founding years of the Republic, when an alliance with the Kurds was forged and hugs were embraced, M. Kemal also kissed the hands of Kurdish elders when necessary.”

 

'THESE THINGS ARE NOT THAT SIMPLE'

 

Abdullah Öcalan continued his evaluations of Bahçeli during his meetings between 2010 and 2011. Pointing to the developments of that period, “Erdoğan, Baykal and Bahçeli have reconciled. In other words, they are taking a simplistic approach as if the problems will be solved if Diyarbakır Spor stays in the league. They even want to use Diyarbakir Spor as a tool for liquidation, they have gone this far. There are also those who approach it as if the national honor of the Kurds will be saved if Diyarbakır Spor stays in the league. These things are not that simple. The danger is really great” Abdullah Öcalan warned.

  

HE PREDICTED AKP-MHP PARTNERSHIP 

 

PKK Leader Öcalan predicted that the MHP would become a ruling partner in the talks held in the same years. Referring to the discussions on the new constitution, Abdullah Öcalan made the following assessment: “For a while the AKP and MHP will be in charge. For 8 years, Erdoğan, Baykal and Bahçeli have been in an alliance on the Kurdish issue. They are no different from each other. The constitutional amendments are just a game. In the current constitutional amendment package there are no Kurds, no Kurd rights, no democratization, no human rights. The referendum is not an issue that concerns Kurds and democrats. However, there is a hundred percent threshold, there are hundreds of children being arrested, there are rapes. There are 1,500 political prisoners of the Kurdish freedom struggle. This constitution is no more advanced than the current September 12 constitution.”

 

MA / Mehmet Aslan