Mediators aim to speed up Ankara-PKK peace talks

ANKARA, Turkey—A delegation from the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) visited the Qandil headquarters of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) Thursday as part of ongoing peace talks between Ankara and the Kurdish group.

The delegation led by three Kurdish MPs in the Turkish parliament visited PKK’s Qandil bases after they met with the group’s jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan last week to convey his message on the peace process to the Turkish government and members of his group.

“All the issues have been set aside and a productive phase is ahead of the peace process,” Sirri Sureyya Onder, HDP’s Istanbul MP told the Turkish media.

“There were many obstacles in the past and the reason was that Turkey’s history did not go in line with our demands,” he added. “But those who run this process now have learned from similar peace processes in other countries and they want to carry it to a meaningful end.”

Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle and Pervin Buldan, three prominent Kurdish politicians were part of the delegation.

The three MPs have been the main mediators in the peace process between Ankara and the PKK in the past several years.

“We are pleased that the peace process is ongoing and that it has not derailed,” Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the media recently.

According to local news reports, Turkey’s national intelligence agency (MIT) intends for parts of the peace negotiations to take place in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.

Turkish newspapers reported that MIT officials believe conducting the meetings in Erbil would speed up the process.