Veteran Kurdish politician Türk ‘shocked’ by MHP leader Bahçeli’s attitude

Following their meeting, veteran Kurdish politician Ahmet Türk stated that he was “shocked” by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli’s “sincere” attitude. Previously called for the closure of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, Bahçeli recently invited jailed PKK leader Öcalan to the parliament to announce the dissolution of the PKK, and met with three DEM Party politicians..

Sunday January 05 2025 12:19 am

This photo shows the meeting between MHP leader Bahçeli and DEM Party politicians held on Jan. 2, showing Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Pervin Buldan, Devlet Bahçeli, and Ahmet Türk from left to right.

Duvar English

Veteran Kurdish politician Ahmet Türk has commented on their meeting with far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli who is an Erdoğan ally.

In a historic visit, Bahçeli met with pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party politicians, including lawmakers Pervin Buldan, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, and Mardin co-mayor Ahmet Türk on Jan. 2.

Türk was recently ousted by the government and replaced with a trustee mayor over alleged “terrorism” ties.

Commenting on the meeting, Türk said “shocked” by Bahçeli’s “sincere” attitude during an interview with journalist İsmail Saymaz from Halk TV.

“(Bahçeli) welcomed us really well. His human relations are very different, close, cordial. He had an attitude of expressing his thoughts openly. He had a very good attitude. When you see his attitude, it really shocks you and you realize that he is sincere. It is time for Kurds and Turks to sit down and solve their own problems,” Ahmet Türk said.

Previously, Bahçeli on several occasions called for the closure of the DEM Party over its alleged ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Türk also noted that their “only concern is the reconstruction of the 1000 years of Turkish-Kurdish fraternity of the past. The friendship between Turks and Kurds determines the future of the Middle East and pioneers a democratic future. At a time when we do not know where the Middle East will evolve, Turks and Kurds should embrace again.”

“There are unnecessary discussions, we are only at the beginning. There is no negotiation with anyone, but the fact is that this is a process that forces Kurds and Turks to be together, a process that makes it mandatory, we have no other choice,” he added.

“At a point where there is a divergence and tension in society, at a point where imperialism is attacking the Middle East with all its forces, we need to solve our own problems ourselves. (Bahçeli) showed the same approach,” Türk also said.

However, he denied a possible meeting with the PYD, adding, “We would like Turkey to establish a friendly relationship with the PYD.”

Turkey regards the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought an insurgency against the Turkish state for 40 years and are deemed "terrorists" by Ankara, Washington and the European Union.

Bahçeli and DEM politicians’ meeting came after DEM MPs Buldan and Önder met the jailed leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, for talks on his island prison on Dec. 28.

The meeting held on the İmralı Island, south of Istanbul, came after Bahçeli’s surprise proposal to end the conflict, suggesting in October that Öcalan should announce an end to the insurgency at the Parliament in exchange for the possibility of his release.

Öcalan said he was “ready to take (the) necessary positive step and make the call,” in response to Bahçeli.

Öcalan has been serving a life sentence in a prison on the İmralı Island since his capture 26 years ago.