Ankara — The spokesperson for the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Parti), Aysel Gül Doğan, addressed the most prominent political developments and the peace process in Turkey, along with developments in Syria, emphasizing the importance of expanding community participation, ensuring collective rights for Kurds, and preparing for a phase of political transformation within the party.

In a press conference held today, Friday, August 28, the spokesperson for the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Parti), Aysel Gül Doğan, touched on current developments and the agenda of the Central Executive Council meeting, stressing the importance of expanding the scope of the sub-committees formed by the Monitoring and Evaluation Council during its meeting held days ago.

She emphasized that the committee should work comprehensively and in a coordinated manner commensurate with the phase the country is going through, and that it should not be limited to a bureaucratic framework, but should be based on broader participation in peace and democracy efforts, including civil society organizations and those with experience in this field.

She called for the establishment of mechanisms that allow various segments of society to contribute to the work of the committees and convey their expertise and experiences, thereby strengthening coordination and participation in monitoring the process.

 

"The Language of the New Phase Must Be with New Words and Vocabulary"

She emphasized the importance of clarifying the role of leader Abdullah Öcalan in the democratic transformation path, stressing the need to provide conditions and capabilities that enable his active and continuous participation in the process, and that his role should not be limited to coordinating the disarmament process, but should include contributing to cementing the historical alliance and unity between Kurds and Turks.

She noted that this requires strengthening his position and coordination capacity within the process's path. She added that the current phase represents a historic opportunity for building a shared life, calling for transcending narrow approaches that do not serve the future: "The language of the new phase must be with new words and vocabulary."

 

"The People of This Country Do Not Want More Death"

She pointed out that talking about peace requires acknowledging the pains of the past as shared pains, away from comparison or setting them against one another, stressing that the success of the peace process in 2015 could have spared the country further casualties.

She emphasized that Turkish society "does not want more death, pain, losses, blood, and tears," and does not want to see more bereaved mothers, considering that the voices of these mothers must be heard and they should be given the opportunity to connect with one another.

She explained that many mothers are still searching for the remains of their children or access to their graves, and they demand peace so that other mothers do not live through the same tragedy. "The truest way to honor the memory of the victims is to build a future that does not witness further losses, while not forgetting the past and having the courage to confront it and build a shared future."

 

The Integration Process in Syria

Regarding political and military developments on the Syrian scene, Aysel Gül Doğan affirmed that her party is closely monitoring developments, considering that what the country is witnessing represents a pivotal phase in its history, and could have repercussions on the region if Turkey succeeds in achieving lasting peace.

She noted that August 25 constituted an important milestone in the path of integrating the Rojava region and Kurds with the rest of Syria, pointing to the joining of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which played a fundamental role in confronting ISIS, to the Syrian army. She welcomed efforts to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.

She praised the role of Ilham Ahmed, considering that her political and diplomatic experience represents a remarkable achievement for Kurdish and Middle Eastern women and an inspiration for women. She also commended the role of Mazloum Abdi and his will in addressing the Rojava issue through legal and political paths.

She also pointed to the role of leader Abdullah Öcalan in both the Turkish and Syrian paths, considering that he seeks to transform the Middle East from a theater of conflict and war into a space for peace, coexistence, and an equal and dignified life, through political and intellectual tools and ideas he has been advancing for years.

 

Constitutional Guarantees and Recognition of Collective Rights for Kurds

She added: "The transition from the years when Kurds in Syria were not even considered citizens to where we are today was not easy. Nothing was achieved easily. The cost was very high, and it was achieved thanks to a very great struggle, and this struggle will continue from now on as well."

She explained that "the recent developments, as well as the announcement regarding the possibility of Mazloum Abdi becoming an advisor to the Syrian president, do not concern only the Kurds living in Syria. The process in Syria should be viewed as a gain for all peoples. We are talking about a homeland for Arabs, Kurds, Alawites, Druze, and Turkmens. This process should be viewed as a gain for the coexistence of many different peoples and religions, and for an equal, fair, and dignified life for all. It should be considered a decisive starting step, and this foundational step should lead to new developments: constitutional guarantees, and recognition of collective rights for Kurds."

 

September 6 Congress Paves the Way for Major Transformation

She noted that the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party will hold its congress on September 6, with the participation of its delegates, explaining that the congress will be a prelude to a larger congress dedicated to change and transformation within the party.

She indicated that the upcoming congress, whose date has not yet been set, will be held in the coming months, aiming to bring about broad change and inject new momentum into the party and political life in Turkey.

She added that preparations for the congress are ongoing through the preparatory committee and the consensus committee for expansion, along with the program and internal regulations committees, affirming that the September 6 congress will not witness major changes, and that fundamental transformations will be introduced in the subsequent congress.