Former AKP MP says new resolution process with Kurds is ‘necessary’

Former ruling AKP lawmaker Mehmet Metiner has said that it is “necessary to initiate a new resolution process in terms of disarmament and meeting some of the just demands of the Kurds.”

Sunday November 13 2022 12:13 pm

Duvar English

Former ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmaker, and Democracy and Unity Association head Mehmet Metiner has called for a new resolution process with Kurds.

“We are against a resolution process similar to the one in the past, but we consider it necessary to start a new solution process in terms of disarmament (of the PKK) and meeting some of the just demands of the Kurds,” Metiner told K24 after an event called “What Do The Kurds Want?”.

When asked about the AKP’s latest visit to Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Metiner said “We do not see HDP as a party that will speak on behalf of the Kurds, it may be one of the parties, but we do not see it as a party that will discuss the future of the Kurds on behalf of the Kurds. HDP is the party of the PKK.”

Metiner also talked about the newly founded Democracy and Unity Association and their goals.

“We are aiming to resurrect the ancient Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood, which does not exclude the Kurds –not only for the Kurds of Turkey, but also for the Kurds living in Iraqi Kurdistan and in Syria- and for Turks and Kurds embarking on a strong historical journey together. This is the purpose of our association. Today, in this event, we talked about the ‘Century of Turkey’ project put forward by our President (Erdoğan). He promised a new constitution. He also said that we should build this constitutional process together. We also want to contribute to this process,” Metiner said.

On Feb. 28, 2015, a ten-point peace plan (called the Dolmabahçe Declaration) was announced by the government and the HDP, reportedly with backing by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), after a fragile ceasefire between PKK and the Turkish military since 2013.

Known by the Turkish public as “the resolution process" or "the peace process," adopted between 2013 and 2015, the negotiations between state officials and the PKK concentrated on the implementation of reforms ensuring democratization and recognition of the cultural and political rights of Kurds in the country.

However, everything began to unravel and the ceasefire collapsed after the general elections of June 2015, which left the Justice and Development Party (AKP) short of an absolute majority and brought the HDP into parliament.

Just one week after the June elections, Erdoğan raised the idea of holding new elections, saying parties in parliament were unable to form a coalition. The general elections repeated in November 2015 saw the AKP come to power.

Topics Mehmet Metiner PKK HDP Kurds Peace process