NEWS CENTER - Unite the Union International Spokesperson Simon Dubbins stated that the EU should put pressure on Turkey for the initiated process and said, "That would be catastrophic if the moment is not seized and we don't really move together down the road of peace." 

 

Commenting on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" and the decision of the PKK's 12th Congress, Simon Dubbins, International Spokesperson of Unite the Union stated that they fully support Abdullah Öcalan's efforts for a peaceful solution. 

 

Speaking to Medya Haber TV, Dubbins said that the call is extremely important and emphasised that Abdullah Öcalan still has the moral and political authority to lead the peace process despite 26 years of isolation. Noting that the PKK's decision to dissolve and disarm demonstrates the political authority of Abdullah Öcalan, Dubbins described the PKK's decision as "a very big step".

 

Dubbins stated that Abdullah Öcalan must be free in order for the process to proceed as it needs to: "The Kurdish side have taken enormous steps. What is absolutely essential now is that the Turkish state responds properly and welcomes the initiative and also takes very concrete steps in order to allow Mr. Ocalan to be able to play the role that only he can play in bringing about a proper, peaceful and negotiated solution."

 

Dubbins stated that despite the steps taken by Abdullah Öcalan and the PKK, Turkey's steps are insufficient, "What's disappointing at the moment is that despite those enormous steps from Mr. Ocalan and the PKK, it still appears that the Turkish state is very, very slow and there have been only very minor improvements in the conditions that Ocalan is held in and that's not acceptable and it's not going to help move this process forward."

 

ENGLAND'S POSITION

 

Stating that the UK is an important actor, Dubbins said that Turkey should be pressurised for the process. Dubbins stated that the UK is partly responsible for the current chaos in the Middle East. "We need the UK government to engage properly and try and bring all parties to the table and to bring about negotiated and peaceful solutions everywhere. Now that won't be achieved by just giving blank checks and blank support to states that are clearly provoking the situation and making the conflicts worse. "

 

Dubbins emphasised that the UK was not doing enough to address the situation in the Middle East.

 

'IT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC IF THE MOMENT IS NOT SEIZED'

 

Dubbins said that the European Union (EU) welcomed Abdullah Öcalan's call and the PKK's decision to dissolve, but did not put the necessary pressure on the Turkish state to do more. "What the European Union and the wider international community need to do is to say obviously, yes, they welcome the statement and the steps that have been taken, but there needs to be much more action from the Turkish state and government so that we don't lose this historical moment that exists right now. That would be catastrophic if the moment is not seized and we don't really move together down the road of peace." 

 

 

SUPPORT FOR 'I WANT TO VISIT ÖCALAN' CAMPAIGN

 

Stating that the statements of the opposition and the ruling party in Turkey on the call are positive, Dubbins stated that concrete steps should be taken to pave the way for Abdullah Öcalan to meet with his lawyers, important actors of the Kurdish movement and other political actors. Stating that they support the international campaign "I want to visit Öcalan" launched in this context, Dubbins concluded: "We would certainly encourage everybody to carry on asking and pushing for access in order to end the isolation that has been in place for many years and has only been partially lifted. What we need is to completely end the limitations on access to Mr Öcalan and as I keep saying for him to be able to engage properly with all the forces that he needs to."