The Executive Council of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) released a statement expressing their support for the ‘Call for Peace and a Democratic Society’ announced by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan through the İmralı Delegation of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) in Istanbul on Thursday.

The KNK statement on Friday includes the following:

“Yesterday was a historic day in the search for a solution to the Kurdish question. Yesterday, a large delegation went to the island of Imrali and met with Mr. Abdullah Öcalan. The delegation brought Mr. Öcalan’s message, the “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society” and announced it to the general public. The goals of this call are peace; to build a democratic society in Turkey and Kurdistan, to lead democratic politics, for the democratization of Turkey in its entirety, and to resolve the Kurdish issue through peace and dialogue.

This call is for many parties. It calls on Turkish state authorities to stop the war, open the way for democratic politics, create conditions for Mr. Öcalan to work freely, bring the Kurdish issue to the Turkish parliament and resolve it democratically.

It is a call to the Kurdish side to reorganize and lay down arms, creating space for and pursuing democratic politics.

Without a resolution, the Kurdish question risks only growing more dire, undermining regional peace and stability. We therefore call on international forces and institutions, as well as the global public to take action on this crucial issue and support a democratic solution.

As the KNK, we understand the crucial importance of Mr. Öcalan’s historic call, and voice our full support for it. We will work to seize this opportunity, and to use all our resources for a peaceful and democratic solution. 

On this occasion:

We call on the Turkish state authorities not to miss this historic opportunity, to give positive responses to this call, and open the way to democratic politics and resolve the Kurdish question through dialogue.

So far, the international response has been good, but it is not enough. We call on global powers: words alone are not enough, all relevant actors must seize this opportunity and play their role for peace and dialogue.

We call on all parties and organizations of Kurdistan and all the peoples of Kurdistan to act together in this sensitive time, to support the Call for Peace and a Democratic Society, to strengthen our unity, and to elevate the struggle for peace and democracy."