The echoes of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" in his message shared with the public on 27 February continue. World-renowned scientists, academics, journalists, artists, politicians and Nobel Prize-winning writers supported Abdullah Öcalan's call.

 

Former Austrian President Heinz Fischer, Vienna Green Party MP Heidi Sequenz, Viennese Lawyer Clemens Lahner, Politician and Foreing Policy Expert Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic, Austrian Green Party MP Berivan Aslan made evaluations to Fırat News Agency (ANF) and stated that Abdullah Öcalan must be released and called on Turkey to take concrete steps. 

 

FISCHER: THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE STEPS TOWARDS PEACE 

 

Former Austrian President Heinz Fischer stated that both sides must take steps to resolve the conflict between Turkey and the Kurds. Fischer said that Abdullah Öcalan's step towards peace is important and that Turkey must reciprocate this step. Fischer noted that an opportunity has arisen for the solution of the long-standing Kurdish issue in Turkey and said, "There has been an unresolved conflict between the Turkish government and the Kurdish people for years. If today there is an opportunity to solve this problem or at least to reduce it, both sides must take steps. Öcalan has taken a brave step. The Turkish government must also approach the Kurdish people in the right way. Only if both sides make a determined effort for peace can success be achieved."

 

'THE OPPORTUNITY MUST BE UTILISED'

 

Fischer stated that he has known Abdullah Öcalan for many years and has closely followed his place in the political history of Turkey and regarding the recent developments he stressed: "I am 86 years old and I remember the period before Öcalan's arrest, when many people from both sides lost their lives. Afterwards, Öcalan was imprisoned in İmralı and this situation remained an unsolved problem for years. However, if Öcalan takes an important step that was not possible in the past and calls on he PKK and the Kurds to 'lay down their arms', this opportunity must be utilised. The Turkish government must also respond positively to this call and take a step towards peace. Peace processes can only progress through mutual steps, not through unilateral steps. For a conflict to be resolved, both sides must act. When one side takes a step, the other side must respond. Öcalan has taken the first step. If the government also responds publicly, an important path can be taken for a lasting peace. Öcalan's message must be taken into consideration and a solution must be found accordingly."

 

Heinz Fischer stated that in the past, Western democracies also had various attempts to find a solution regarding Turkey, Abdullah Öcalan and the PKK, but most of them ended in failure. Stating that a real opportunity has arisen now, Fischer added: “In the last 20 years, many solutions to this problem have been proposed in Western democracies. Most of them have failed. But now we have a real opportunity and it must be seized. Even the hardest stone changes its shape when water constantly flows over it. Most of the efforts over the years have been fruitless, but today there is a chance. If this opportunity is not seized, it will be a great loss. Both sides should take steps for peace and solve this problem permanently.” 

 

SEQUENZ: ÖCALAN'S STEP MUST NOT GO UNANSWERED

 

Vienna Green Party MP Heidi Sequenz pointed out that the peace step taken by Abdullah Öcalan is extremely important and courageous. Heidi Sequenz stressed that Turkey must rciprocate. 

 

"This step taken by Öcalan is not only important but also extremely courageous. Saying ‘We are ending military conflicts’ is a big step. But at this point, there should be a response from Turkey. Unfortunately, we have not seen such a step so far. Attacks against Kurds continue. This is damaging the climate of trust. I recently read about the attack on a family in Rojava and the deaths of civilians. Such incidents definitely undermine trust and damage the peace process," she said.  

 

Heidi Sequenz pointed out that the heads of state of the European Union and Europe in general must take Abdullah Öcalan's call for peace into consideration and added, "What is really important is that the heads of state of the European Union and Europe in general take this peace proposal of Öcalan on the agenda and make it widely publicized. Otherwise, this initiative cannot be effecrive. Öcalan's message deserves to be strongly publicized to the world. Abdullah Öcalan's imprisonment in solitary condinement for many years is an inhumane practice. He must be released immediately. No one deserves to be held in isolation for so long. The Turkish government must immediately change this situation and ensure Öcalan's immediate release. How long will he be held in isolation in İmralı?"

 

LAHNER: ÖCALAN IS A POWERFUL SYMBOL

 

Viennese lawyer Clemens Lahner Evaluated Abdullah Öcalan's call for peace as an important initiative for a sincere and lasting solution. Clemens Lahner said, "Abdullah Öcalan's call for peace is a serious attempt towards a lasting peace for the Kurdish and Turkish peoples. Turkey must seize this opportunity and engage in serious negotiations with the Kurdish people. This is a very important initiative and we hope that Turkey will seize this opportunity and start serious negotiations with the Kurdish Freedom Movement. Öcalan has been held in isolation for many years. Turkey calls him a 'terrorist' but for the Kurdish people he is a representative and a powerful symbol. His role in the peace process is very important. This conflict cannot be won by military means. Neither the Kurdish Freedom Movement nor the Turkish army can achieve a military victory. Therefore, the only solution is a political and democratic agreement. International solidarity is important. Human rights are universal. International solidarity is very important. If we talk about human rights, we must remember that these rights must apply to everyone. Human rights are either for everyone or for no one. The rights of the Kurdish people are as important as our rights. When the rights of one people are violated, the rights of everyone are jeopardized. That is why we must stand together, talk and find a common solution.” 

 

EWA ERNST-DZIEDZIC: TURKEY IS NOT READY TO TAKE STEPS

 

Austrian politician and foreign policy expert Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic stated that Turkey's oppression against the Kurdish people still continues and that it does not approach the peace process sincerely. Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic emphasised that Abdullah Öcalan has been kept under unlawful isolation for many years and said that he should be released. Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic said: "Öcalan has been unlawfully kept under severe isolation for a very long time and he should be released. The Kurds have repeatedly expressed their readiness for negotiations and a ceasefire, but this has always been one-sided. Turkey has never reciprocated and is still not taking any concrete steps towards peace. In Syria, too, the Kurds have great hopes for peace and reconciliation and can play a role within the state. However, I am sceptical that this process will succeed. Because immediately after the signing of an 8-point agreement with the Kurds, it was announced that the Syrian president was the sole ruler of the country and that Islam would be recognised as the official religion. Kurds and other minorities were quickly forgotten, women's rights were also ignored."

 

Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic pointed out that Turkey is not really committed to the peace process at the moment and that the repression against the Kurdish people and the opposition. T"he repression in Turkey continues, the repression against the Kurds and the opposition is increasing, people are being arrested. No one should trust that Erdoğan is really interested in peace," she said. 

 

BERİVAN ASLAN: THE PROCESS MUST BE PLACED UNDER INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION

 

Austrian Green Party MP Berivan Aslan stated that the process in Turkey must be monitored more by the international community and that diplomacy must be given more importance in order to achieve peace. Berivan Aslan said: "The truth is that we cannot become brothers by dying. The Kurdish people and other peoples have the right to an honourable life. However, this process needs to be monitored more closely by international actors. The peace process should start and this time it should be based on more solid foundations by learning from the failed experiences of the past."

 

Berivan Aslan stated that international actors should take a more active role for the peace process to be successful. She stressed: "I believe that international actors should be involved in the process for a stronger peace process. Diplomacy should be placed at the centre of this process. A solid peace process is important not only for Kurds but also for Europe and the whole world. As politicians we are ready to do our part. The Kurdish people have struggled hard, tired and lost a lot. We must not let the world turn into an orphanage for them. We must prevent children from being treated as orphans in this world."