People's Defence Centre Headquarters Commander Murat Karayılan answered Yeni Özgür Politika's questions about the discussions on the Kurdish issue. Karayılan said that what is happening in the Middle East is the “3rd World War” and that this war is escalating. 

 

Stating that the AKP-MHP want to condemn the Kurds to statelessness once again, “What is needed most in this period is an organized society and unity,” said and noted that the process contains dangers and opportunities. Karayılan referred to the isolation in İmralı. Karayılan said: “Our position is one of self-criticism towards the Leader (Öcalan). We can develop self-criticism by putting it more into practice in the right line. Both as a movement and as a people, it is our most fundamental duty to respond more to the reality of Leader Apo, to lighten his burden and strengthen his hand. To the extent that we undertake this and achieve success in this regard, we will also succeed in responding to the developments in the country and the region.” 

 

'YES TO DEMOCRATIC SOLUTION'  

 

Referring to the AKP-MHP's statements on the “new process”, Karayılan said: “They are discussing themselves as if there is a new process, but there is nothing reflected on us, the Kurdish side, so far. As a movement, we are not against the democratic solution process. After so much experience, we are not going to give a premium to perception-building policies within the scope of ordinary special war tactics. Of course conditions have changed, there cannot be a repetition of the old. This is true. There was no seriousness and sincerity in the past. On the one hand, the Turkish state was continuing negotiations with our Leader, saying 'we will develop a solution', on the other hand, it was preparing for war by deciding on the 'Collapse Plan'. In the final analysis, the joint agreement reached as a result of the discussions was rejected. After the agreement was read at the Dolmabahçe Palace, Leader Apo was going to call for the convening of the PKK Congress in April and the finalization of this process. While preparing for this, Tayyip Erdoğan denied and rejected the agreement and imposed isolation and war. This is the reality. Now, on the one hand, they are talking as if there is something new, on the other hand, they are showing sticks and making threats. We are carrying out our struggle and we are not dependent on anyone.” 

 

'NO ONE SHOULD MISCALCULATE'

 

Karayılan pointed to the discussions about “the PKK has been weakened”. “In addition, the statements expressed in some discussions such as 'We have weakened the PKK within our own borders, we have even ended it. It only exists in Iraq and Syria' does not express the truth and is manipulative. Those who see our strategic approach, which has consciously developed a certain stretch in Northern Kurdistan, as a weakening will tomorrow realize how deeply mistaken they are. In general, our strength is stronger than it was 10 years ago. Maybe there has been a certain reduction in the guerrilla movement in the North, but no one should deceive themselves about this. We have strong ground, potential and core positions. The Turkish state has been saying for 4-5 years that it has finished us in the North; this is a big lie. Except for one or two non-core provinces, our power continues to maintain its position everywhere. In this respect, no one should miscalculate. Those who miscalculate will harm themselves” Karayılan said. 

 

RESPONSE TO DEVLET BAHÇELİ

 

Karayılan also evaluated Devlet Bahçeli's calls. Karayılan stated that the Kurdish people and themselves will not say 'no' to peace, but they will continue to be cautious. 

 

Karayılan continued as follows: “Any search for a solution that does not center on the freedom of Leader Apo is null and void for us. If the process is to be approached with new methods, not a repetition of the old, it must be approached from this link. Developing dialogues by approaching Leader Apo within the framework of Mandela's law can bring a radical solution to the issue.

 

Undoubtedly, as Leader Apo pointed out, the PKK and the legal-democratic Kurdish politics have important roles to play in the solution. What the regime is doing is a simple tactic of pitting one against the other. If this is avoided and the role that each of the components of the Kurdish side can play is taken into account, there will be no problem. Moreover, in the past, the Turkish state has accepted Leader Apo and the PKK as interlocutors in the solution of the Kurdish issue. It has also assigned a role to legal democratic politics. Now it is impossible to step back from this and it cannot be in good faith to make this a subject of discussion. With whom did the state continue the 'Oslo talks' for three years? On what basis were the İmralı talks conducted? These talks continued because the state accepted Leader Abdullah Öcalan as the interlocutor.

 

BAHÇELI SEES OCALAN AS AN INTERLOCUTOR

 

Most recently, Devlet Bahçeli's call, although according to his own understanding and with an irrational content that we will never accept, is in essence a call made because he sees Leader Apo as the interlocutor. This fact is obvious. Any solution cannot develop by skipping this reality and dwelling on another version. This is the truth, and if there is an approach according to this truth, of course it will be reciprocated on the Kurdish side. If this is not the case, approaches to develop various tactics within the framework of the search to get out of being stuck will not yield any results.”