Öcalan: "As important as the founding of the Republic"
The DEM Party's İmralı delegation issued a statement after meeting with Abdullah Öcalan.
RastinewsThe DEM Party's İmralı delegation issued a statement following a meeting with Abdullah Öcalan.
During the meeting, Öcalan described the new legal process as a step toward democratization "as important as the founding of the Republic," saying, "A journey of a thousand kilometers begins with a single step."
"Nothing has been fully resolved yet, but there is no reason to take a negative view either," Öcalan said. "The law that politics will produce is the key that will open the way for this process. The door is being opened wide to a democratic republic."
"As important as the founding of the Republic"
Öcalan offered the following assessment:
"With this law, we are setting out to resolve a historic problem. We are at the start of a democratization process that will be at least as important as the founding of the Republic. Just as great sacrifices were made in founding the Republic, the same seriousness is now needed to build a democratic republic."
Öcalan said the steps to be taken would affect not only Kurds but all of Turkey and the wider region, pointing to the process's economic and legal gains. "This step will open the way for the advancement of democratic law and the growth of economic opportunity. It is a great service to be rendered to 86 million people," he said.
Öcalan noted that the political establishment bears great responsibility in the process, adding that its success requires the organized strength of society and a correct understanding of what is at stake. He summed up his view of the process as follows:
"Nothing has been fully resolved yet, but there is no reason to take a negative view either. The law that politics will produce is the key that will open the way for this process. The door is being opened wide to a democratic republic."
The statement said the content of the meeting was critical to the road map for the period ahead. The delegation underlined Öcalan's commitment to peace and democratization and called on the public to embrace the process. The full text of the statement follows:
As the DEM Party's İmralı delegation, we met with Mr. Abdullah Öcalan on August 2, 2026. During the meeting, Mr. Öcalan shared his assessment of the current process, the work underway and the historic responsibilities of the period ahead, and asked our delegation to convey the following messages to the public.
Mr. Öcalan's messages are as follows:
"A journey of a thousand kilometers begins with a single step.
"With this law, we are setting out to resolve a historic problem. We are at the start of a democratization process that will be at least as important as the founding of the Republic.
"Just as great effort and sacrifice went into founding the Republic, the same seriousness is now needed to build a democratic republic.
"This is not a need of Kurds alone or of any one group — it is a need of everyone living on this land. The step to be taken will affect the fate of the country and the region; it will open the way for the advancement of democratic law and the growth of economic opportunity. It is a great service to be rendered to 86 million people.
"We will make a historic breakthrough through the organized strength of society. This step will make an enormous contribution to peace and to the economy.
"Nothing has been fully resolved yet. But there is no reason to take a negative view either. What matters is that this step is correctly understood and that everyone takes responsibility for the success of the process.
"The law that politics will produce is the key that will open the way for this process. The door is being opened wide to a democratic republic."
Source: Rûdaw