Following the messages of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan for the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue, the discussions that started within the framework of the talks held by the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party İmralı Delegation continue. The delegation met with Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) and Partriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Chairs as well as government officials in the Federated Kurdistan Region last week, gave important messages.

 

While the public is eagerly awaiting Abdullah Öcalan's messages and the statement he will make, Evgil Türker, Chair of the Federation of Assyrian Associations (SÜDEF), made evaluations on the talks and the expectations of Assyrians.

 

Noting that Assyrians are a people who have been living intertwined with Kurds for 100 years, Türker said that such processes deeply concern Assyrians. Türker noted that they generally followed the talks with Abdullah Öcalan through the media and that the messages given created expectations among the Assyrian people and that Abdullah Öcalan also asked about the Assyrians during his meeting with Ömer Öcalan. Türker said, “What are his evaluations about the Assyrians? What are his findings? Because he had important evaluations and determinations about Assyrians during the solution process between 2013-2015.” 

 

Türker emphasized the importance of the talks for Assyrians and said that Turkey should settle on a certain course. Türker said that the policies of the government also affected them negatively. Türker added, “If this process evolves into peace and a democratic republic, Assyrians will support it first and foremost. Because Assyrians migrated from their own country many years ago. The reason for these migrations was not arbitrary. Nor was it for simple reasons. The basis of these migrations is political. Political approaches are the 100-year monist policy of the state. These monist policies have continued from the foundation of the Republic until today. Therefore, in a solution process or in the construction of a democratic republic, Assyrians would be comfortable, and there would even be a reverse migration. If it is like the paradigm developed by Mr. Öcalan, Assyrians will contribute to this.” 

 

'ASSYRIANS HAVE A SPECIAL INTEREST IN ÖCALAN'

 

Türker said that the Assyrians aim for equal citizenship, to see themselves in a democratic constitution and the establishment of a democratic republic, Türker said, "Assyrians also have a special interest in Mr. Öcalan. Because we have seen how much he values Assyrians in his statements and discourses. In his own words, Assyrians are one of the most ancient peoples of this land. That is why the Assyrians value him and that is why they are expecting something. With the democratic nation model, a self-government was built in Northern and Eastern Syria, where the peoples govern together. Assyrians are also involved in every institution of the self-government there. This is a model that should be and it needs to be carried further. Assyrians want their rights to be recognized constitutionally in Turkey. We support this process regardless of its name. Until today, Assyrians have valued all of Mr. Öcalan's statements. It will be the same from now on."

 

Türker stated that as Assyrian organizations, they would like to meet with Öcalan and discuss the problems if the opportunity is created, and continued his words as follows: “If this problem is solved, Turkey will move forward. It is one of the most fundamental problems of Turkey. If democracy is weakening in Turkey today, if the law is weakening, if politics is regressing, if the economy is not doing well, it is due to this problem. If the Kurdish problem is solved in Turkey, everything will not be rosy all of a sudden, but a great burden will be lifted from Turkey's back. That is why we must all embrace the process that is developing. The state and other societies and Kurds should also embrace it.” 

 

MA /Ahmet Kanbal