http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/
February/23/2013

BDP visit Ocalan at the Imrali island

BDP Deputy Parliamentary Group Chair Pervin Buldan, Istanbul deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder, and Diyarbakır deputy Altan Tan visited I˙mralı, where Öcalan is serving a life sentence, as part of a “peace process” that involves government officials holding talks with Öcalan in order to convince PKK militants to lay down their arms.

“This meeting is a historic step. We are going through a historic process,” Öcalan wrote in the letter, which was read to reporters by Buldan. The letter also urges all parties to be extremely “prudent and mindful.” 

“The state has captives in its hands. So does the PKK. The PKK has to treat its captives very well. I hope they will rejoin their families,” he said. 

The prime minister again underlined that the government’s goal was to convince the PKK to lay down its arms, adding that the retreat of PKK militants from Turkish territory was crucial. “This way, we can take precautions so that the same misfortunes of the past don’t happen again. Our people have an expectation. We have to assume responsibility together,” he said.

“Peace is a universal principle. We are looking into people’s eyes. People want peace, the scream of peace is being heard,” BDP co-chair Demirtaş said.