Erdogan, pro-Kurdish MPs meet in ‘new phase’ of rapprochement

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with MPs from the pro -Kurdish Dem Party on Monday to discuss the next steps after the PKK militants agreed to end their decades.

Türkiye’s third largest party, Dem, played a key role in facilitating a peace agreement between the PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, the government and the Kurdish militant group, which was expected to start to leave their weapons later this week.

The meeting, which lasted a little more than an hour, brought together Erdoğan, a senior figure in the ruling AKP, Efkan Ala and Dem MPs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar and Spy Chef Ibrahim Kalin.

Dem MPs conveyed their views and suggestions about what to do in the new stage of our delegation process and in the next step, “the deputies said in a short statement after the talks. He said.

Dem deputy Buldan described the meeting as “history”.

“The process is now entering a new stage where consultations are needed.” He said.

“Consulting to take the necessary steps is important.”

Dem deputy Mithat Sancar said that the new stage is “very important” and they will use the meeting to “share our views” and “listen to them”.

He said: “We will consult the President and the delegation about the characteristics of this new stage and the upcoming requirements.”

On Sunday, he held a “very productive” meeting with Çift Ocalan and Imrali Prison Island. The 76 -year -old PKK founder, who was imprisoned, described the talks with Erdoğan as “historical”.

He told them that the establishment of the peace process would “play an important role”.

The meeting would hold a ceremony to start destroying the PKK’s first arms in Kurdistan in Iraq-which will probably take place on July 10-12 or around.

Erdogan said the movement will accelerate peace efforts with the Kurds.

The process of disarmament is expected to emerge in the coming months.

BUR-HMW/JHB