17 August 2010
PKK leader says process can work if conditions are met
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Murat Karayilan set conditions to extend the ceasefire that will last on September 20.
President of the PKK’s umbrella organization Kurdistan Democratic Confederation (KCK) Murat Karayilan said that the aim of the ceasefire is to pave the way of a bilateral truce between Turkish state and the PKK.
He demanded the release of the 1700 Kurdish politicians and activists still in jail. Karayilan also said that Turkish state must lay out the framework for Kurdish national leader Abdullah Ocalan's active participation to the peace process
Karayilan labeled 10 percent election threshold as a barrier to Kurdish political parties and called Turkish to lower it.
“If all these conditions are met this process can lead to a sustainable peace” Karayilan said.
Karayilan said the declaration of ceasefire is “a chance for peace”.
Karayilan also called the president of Federal Kurdistan Government Massoud Barzani to take role in peace process and welcomed Barzani’s statements after the declaration of ceasefire.
“This process can move forward if Turkish state and AKP government take steps. If they don’t it will end in a stalemate” Karayilan said.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
