Speaking at the Democratic Society Congress' (DTK) Ordinary General Meeting Co-Chair Ahmet Türk underlined the need for a solution of the Kurdish issue based on negotiation and dialogue.

"The AKP [Justice and Development Party] government and the prime minister - said the DTK co-chair - have a negationist approach to the Kurdish issue. It is not possible for the PM to solve the Kurdish issue by alienating himself from the people and their democratic demands".

Türk underlined that Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan "is under strict confinment. This kind of policy by the state is a blind policy. You cannot silence the Kurdish people with arms and prison. The Kurdish people did not give up their resistance in the 90s when point blank murders by unknown killer were going on on a daily basis. They will not give it up today" added Türk, calling for a solution based on negotiation.

Türk also underlined that a democratic republic is the future of the Kurdish people as well as all of the peoples of the country. Turkey, he added, "would be able to solve its problems when it will begin to talk about living together in a shared, just and equal country".

Speaking about the Democratic Autonomy, he said it "is the project of freedom and equality of Kurds and Turks living together. It should be understood that 20 million Kurds can no longer be governed by Turkish government's policies. We are absolutely determined to obtain a status for the Kurds. Everybody should see and accept this."

A final declaration will be shared with the public this afternoon after the meeting is over.