PKK Executive Committee Member Duran Kalkan said that the pro-nation state and cultural-genocidal regime in Turkey collapsed after June 7 elections, and emphasized that it was no longer possible to keep the status quo. Kalkan added that a new process with new conditions emerged in the region, and congratulated YPG/YPJ and other forces for the Rubar Qamishlo Initiative that successfully liberated Gire Spi from ISIS gangs.

PKK Executive Committee Member Duran Kalkan spoke to Ersin Çelik from MED NÛÇE TV and highlighted Leader Apo’s role as chief negotiator representing PKK. Kalkan said that Leader Apo could no longer be imprisoned and isolated if the negotiations were to take place in free and equal terms. Duran Kalkan described AKP as the losers and HDP as the winners of June 7 elections, and said that it was natural for HDP to overcome the election threshold because people in Turkey feel the need for a new life and democracy.

TURKISH PRO-NATION STATE SYSTEM COLLAPSED

Kalkan stated that the Turkish pro-nation state system collapsed after HDP’s election victory, and Turkish-Islam synthesis is no longer a viable option for Turkey. Criticizing Davutoğlu’s reminder that AKP received more votes than any other party, Kalkan said that AKP’s 40 percent of the votes did not come after an increase from 30 percent but after a decrease from 50 percent in comparison with the previous election.

CULTURA- GENOCIDAL REGIME IS DEFEATED

Kalkan said that the recent election has brought to an end to the debate on who represents Kurds in Turkey and North Kurdistan, and that Davutoğlu admitted HDP’s leading representation of Kurdish people when he said that AKP became the first party in 6 regions but was non-existent in the 7th region (Southeastern Anatolia, which is predominantly Kurdish). Kalkan stated that with its election victory, HDP defeated the cultural-genocidal regime in Turkey and became the first choice of not only Kurds but also Azeris, Terekemes and Turkmens. Kalkan also criticized KDP and South Kurdistan administration for their alliance with and dependence on foreign forces such as AKP, and invited KDP to change its policy regarding PKK and contribute to the organization of a democratic Kurdish National Congress.

IT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO KEEP THE STATUS QUO

Kalkan described June 7 elections as a historical turning point and said that it was no longer possible to keep the status quo in Turkey and in the region. Kalkan stated that the current search for a coalition would need to take this historical change into account and the only viable path for peace and democracy in the region is transformative democratization.

LEADER APO’S FREE LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED

Kalkan reminded that Tayyip Erdoğan ended the negotiations as soon as the two sides reached the 10 principles established by the joint Dolmabahçe declaration. Kalkan emphasized that democratization in Turkey would need to be framed through these 10 principles, and leader Apo’s free living and working conditions would need to be established. Kalkan said that Leader Apo could no longer be imprisoned and isolated if the negotiations were to take place in free and equal terms.

AKP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN AMED

Kalkan criticized AKP attempts to blame ISIS for the bomb attacks that took place in Mersin, Adana, and Amed, and said that AKP was responsible for these attacks. Kalkan argued that the June 5 massacre in Amed aimed to create chaos and prevent the elections from taking place. Kalkan reminded that Hizbullah in Kurdistan served as a counter-guerilla group that played an active role in the 90s, and argued that AKP is using groups such as Hizbullah and ISIS in its dirty war against the Kurdish Freedom Movement.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE WHO DEFEATED ISIS

Kalkan recalled the Rojava, Başur, Şengal, Kobane, Kerkuk and Maxmur resistances against ISIS and emphasized YPG/YPJ’s leading role in these struggles. Kalkan argued that military victories in these resistances translated as political success in Turkey and North Kurdistan after June 7 elections. Kalkan said that the process of democratic revolution began with the Kobane resistance and accelerated with HDP’s election victory on June 7.

Kalkan said that since the Kobane resistance, important developments have been taking place in Cizire. Kalkan emphasized the importance of the Rubar Qamişlo Initiative that began on May 6, and said that YPG-YPJ has been the only force that can win victories against ISIS since the gangs’ emergence. Kalkan reminded the recent ISIS occupations of Ramadi in Iraq and Palmira in Syria, and said that peoples’ organized and joint power, found in YPG-YPJ, is the only antidote to ISIS advances.

Kalkan congratulated YPG-YPJ and every other group that contributed to the success against ISIS in Gire Spi, and said that he remembered the fighters who became martyrs during this success against ISIS with respect. Kalkan added that a conclusive victory against ISIS was required for the protection of Rojava revolution and the establishment of peace among Middle Eastern peoples.