JINHA

ANKARA – In a press conference in Ankara, the delegation of the People's Democratic Party (HDP) recently returned from Kandil has reported that the Group of Communities in Kurdistan, or KCK, expressed thatit was unacceptable that negotiations still have not begun in the resolution process.

The delegation held several long meetings with KCK representatives in Kandil on February 13 and 14, with women members holding an additional meeting with women KCK representatives. On the agenda for the meetings were the steps needed in the resolution process, the "Internal Security" law being presented to the Turkish parliament, and recent developments in the Middle East.

The KCK representatives expressed their concernsabout the Turkish government's failure to reach a consensus and begin the negotiations stage. Those present in the meetings extensively debated the AKP's sincerity and seriousness. The "Internal Security" law (which would give police unrestricted power), many said, demonstrated the AKP's desire to eliminate all opposition, rather than democratize the country. Many expressed the need for legislation that would promote democracy rather authoritarianism, as well as the need for developments that would benefit democratization for all peoples in Turkey—rather than the narrow electoral interests of the AKP.

The KCK representatives also commented on Kobanê and Shengal as historical developments for the Middle East, saying that they hoped to see the massive popular willpower demonstrated in solidarity with those people alsoexpressed in the peace process.

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