ANKARA - Answering the questions of journalists, DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan drew attention to the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and said, "The gates must be opened."

 

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan answered journalists' questions after his party's weekly group meeting in Parliament.

 

Stating that he had "no information" on when the delegation meeting with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan would make a statement and when the second meeting would take place, Bakırhan said: "I hope they will go as soon as possible. This is also our demand." 

 

Answering a question about Bahçeli's demand for a second meeting and "laying down arms", Bakırhan said, "What Mr Bahçeli said is important; problems cannot be solved by ignoring them. There is the Kurdish issue and the problem of Turkey's democratisation. It cannot be solved by ignoring them. Therefore, we do not know what kind of a call will come from İmralı. For that call to happen, the delegation must go. The doors must be opened. I think it is necessary to ask this to the government."