The echoes of the meeting between Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) MPs Pervin Buldan and Sırrı Süreyya Önder with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı on 28 December continue. Those who yesterday supported the vigil at the Kobanê border in Pirsûs (Suruç) district of Riha (Urfa) against the attacks of Turkey and the affiliated Syrian National Army (SNA) against North and East Syria, made evaluations about the meeting. 

 

'TIME FOR FREEDOM'

 

 

Adil Ercan, one of the executives of Enstîtuya Kurdî Amed (Diyarbakır Kurdish Institute), who participated in the vigil in Pirsûs from Amed, emphasized that the way to a solution passes through İmralı. Ercan said: "The meeting is a great good news for us. There has been war for more that 50 years. Our only demand is for this war to end. If the war ends, peace will come to these lands. This meeting is important in this respect. We hope that these talks will continue. We are ready to contribute to whatever is asked of us."

 

'THE WAY FOR MR ÖCALAN SHOULD BE PAVED'

 

 

Kurdish PEN Co-President Ömer Fidan said that they had been waiting for a message from İmralı for a long time. Referring to the importance of İmralı for the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue, "Everyone was wondering what Mr Öcalan would say. The key role of Mr Öcalan in the solution is known by everyone. There are several addresses for the solution of the problems, and Imrali is one of these addresses. Mr Öcalan can play a leading role in the solution fo the problems not only in Kurdistan but also in the whole Middle East. For this, the isolation must end as soon as possible. The state wing has taken a small step, but from now on the steps must be increased. The way must be paved for Mr Öcalan to express his views freely. We need Mr Öcalan's ideas for a solution," he said. 

 

Drawing attention to the threats of attack against Kobanê, Fidan continued as follows: "We were on the border of Kobanê 10 years ago. Kobanê is a living and strong shield against barbarism. Just as the Kurdish people defeated ISIS in Kobanê 10 years ago and protected the honour of all humanity, they are resisting for this again today. Our duty is to protect this honourable resistance. The future of all peoples and beliefs depends on protecting Rojava. The peoples of the world must protect Kobanê. Kurds need to unite as soon as possible. International powers should take action for this as soon as possible."

 

'RESOLVING POWER FOR PEACE WITH DIGNITY'

 

 

Jêhat Rojhilat, Editor-in-Chief of Payiz Publications, reminded that the message of peace was prominent in yesterday's press statement on the talks and said: "Kurdistan is divided into four parts with artificial borders. Wherever borders are drawn, there are relatives on both sides of the border. This people cannot be separated from each other. While there is war across the border, people on this side cannot be expected to sit in their homes. 10 years ago, people here showed their democratic reaction and got a result. Writers and intellectuals, who are the conscience of the society, should show their reactions against the attacks. Writers and intellectuals can move their pens for an honorable peace.”

 

'ÖCALAN'S WORDS NECESSARY FOR PEACE'

 

 

Roza Metina, President of the Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG), said that the İmralı meeting will have a great impact and added: “PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan's words are necessary for a lasting peace. The talks held and to be held in İmralı are important for the murder of journalists to end, for the attacks against children to end, and for the fire burning in the Middle East to be extinguished. It is important to act together so that the message given in İmralı reaches its addressee and is realized. Mr. Öcalan gave the message of the coexistence of peoples against nationalism and racism. As journalists, we hope that this message will lead to a lasting peace.” 

 

'DEMOCRATIC NATION IS THE SOLUTION'

 

 

Politician Hasan Özgüneş stated that the call from İmralı was addressed to all political parties in the parliament, especially the AKP-MHP government. Özgüneş continued as follows: “The content of the message is the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue and the end of the wars with an honorable peace for the reconstruction of Kurdish-Turkish brotherhood. There is a crisis in the Middle East. Due to the conflicts in Turkey, the crisis has evolved to a critical point in the last 40 years. If there is no solution, this crisis will take an irreversible path. Imperialist states want to redesign the Middle East. States built on the idea of one flag, one language and one religion no longer offer people a life. The time for this to change has come and gone. Mr. Öcalan's call and the Democratic Nation can only be a prescription for these problems. Mr. Öcalan's call is to the AKP in particular, but also to all Middle Eastern countries in general."

 

MA / Emrullah Acar