Rojhelat Bulletin: Peace Process

Rojhelat has compiled a collection of news stories, statements from the Kurdish leadership, and analysis on the topic of the peace process, which we are making available for download (pdf). The bulletin includes articles by Cengiz Candar and Andrew Finkel, as well as interviews and statements from Murat Karayilan and Cemil Bayik, as is a very useful collection on the process up to this point.

Murat Karayilan: We are making preparations, the other side should do likewise!

Transcript of an interview with Nuçe TV.

NEWS CENTER 28/03/2013

KCK Executive Council President Murat Karayilan and member of the Executive Council Presidency Ronahi Serhat, have made ​​important statements about withdrawing from the Turkish territory. Karayilan, pointing out the important responsibility on the Turkish Assembly, said “To ensure continuity of this process, it needs to be developed mutually. We are preparing for withdrawal, but the other side also needs to start preparations. To facilitate this process, our leader’s conditions of imprisonment need to be improved.” Ronahi Serhat stated that the channels for dialogue with the architect of the peace process need to be opened.

KCK Executive Council President Murat Karayilan and member of the Executive Council Presidency Ronahi Serhat, answered the questions directed by the journalists Koray Düzgören, Erdal Er and Khaled Hermit from Nuçe TV.

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Karayılan: We have no doubt the Turkish state was involved

Translated from Turkish original (short text version), London 1 Feb. 2013

by DENİZ KENDAL

22 January 2013

BEHDİNAN – KCK Executive Council President Murat Karayılan said they had no doubt that the Turkish state was behind the murder of three Kurdish women activists in Paris, adding that it was “highly likely” the attack had been carried out along the lines of the Green Ergenekon integration strategy.

Karayılan stated there were two possibilities as regards which forces were behind the murders of PKK founder member Sakine Cansız, KNK Paris representative Fidan Doğan and youth movement member Leyla Söylemez on 9 January. Karayılan said it was highly likely that the attack had been carried out by Green Ergenekon forces as part of their plans to liquidate the leaders of the Kurdish movement. He added that the second possibility was that the Ergenekon deep state structure had carried out the attack without the knowledge of the government together with the NATO Gladio.  Karayılan also made assessments of the latest developments in Syria.

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Karayılan: Dialogue is important but there also needs to be a policy for resolution

Edited version, 9.01.12
London

KCK Executive Council President Murat Karayılan talked to ANF reporters Deniz Kendal and Rosida Mardin about the recent meeting with the leader of the Kurdish people, Abdullah Öcalan, on Imrali Island.  Stressing the importance of monitoring the initiative carefully, he said, “the initiative launched for dialogue is both an important and an accurate approach.”

Karayılan said that meetings have been taking place with Öcalan since November, and he continued, “of course the visit of Ahmet Turk and Ayla Akat to Imrali showed the significance of these meetings.” This is a new dimension and we are aware of its importance. However, we will find out in the coming days whether these meetings and the renewed dialogue will turn into a process that leads to a resolution of the Kurdish issue or not. The present period may be described as a consultative one, but we need more data to assess the process. The attitude of the AKP government is especially important in this regard. In terms of whether the process of dialogue will be turned into resolution process or not, the government’s attitude will be absolutely decisive.

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