Kurdish rebel leader suggests open to ending insurgency – POLITICO

Bahçeli constantly named himself sworn enemy of the PKKand his offer was a shock.

But the jailed leader seems willing to work with Bahçeli and Erdoğan, according to a statement on Sunday by the pro-Kurdish party DEM, following a visit to Öcalan the day before.

“I have what it takes competence and determination to contribute positively to the new paradigm supported by Mr. Bahçeli and Mr. Erdoğan”, DEM Party the statement quotes Öcalan as they say. “I’m ready to take necessary positive steps and make the necessary call.”

Erdoğan signaled that he was aware of Bahçeli’s move, saying in a televised speech on Wednesday: “We hope that this unique window of opportunity that the ruling coalition offers to end terror will not be sacrificed for personal agendas.”

Öcalan added in his reported statement that the “recent incidents” in Gaza and Syria showed that “solving this issue…can no longer be postponed.” Syrian President Bashar Assad was recently banished from the country after years of brutal authoritarian rule.

Highlighting the volatility that surrounds it Turkey and the Kurdsfive people were killed in a attack at the Turkish Aerospace Industries headquarters in Ankara just one day after Bahçeli’s statements in October.

The Turkish interior minister said at the time “very likely” the perpetrators were members of the PKK, which is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU.