Commenting on the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the recent discussions on the Kurdish issue, Fabriozio De Sanctis, National Secretary of the National Association of Italian Partisans (Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d'Italia - ANPI), told Fırat News Agency (Ajansa Nuçeya Fırat - ANF) that the meeting of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan with his nephew Ömer Öcalan was positive but insufficient. Noting that Abdullah Öcalan's captivity means the captivity of the Kurdish people as a whole, “This meeting with Abdullah Öcalan is certainly very positive. Öcalan is seen as a political leader by millions of Kurds. I also had the opportunity to visit Amed (Diyarbakır) and meet with many associations. Each time we were told that the imprisonment of Öcalan means the imprisonment of all Kurds. This is felt by the Kurds as a restriction of their political freedoms; they feel that if their leaders are subjected to this, they too can be subjected to the worst consequences.” 

 

'ÖCALAN IS INDISPENSABLE IN SOLVING THE ISSUE'

 

De Sanctis emphasized that Öcalan is indispensable for the solution of the Kurdish issue, “I think this meeting could be a small light that will turn into a big sun to find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue in Turkey. It is very serious that talks with Öcalan are banned again when there is a great opportunity for a solution to the Kurdish issue. It seems that a new isolation measure has been decided and the sentence has been extended for a few more months. This is accompanied by severe measures such as the dismissal of three elected Kurdish mayors.” 

 

'POLITICAL COURAGE IS NEEDED'

 

Fabrizio De Sanctis said that Öcalan's message to the public clearly demonstrated his stance in favor of a political solution to the Kurdish issue, “Öcalan's message is a message that shows a willingness for peace. He should be allowed to play a political role. He should be invited to the Turkish Parliament to discuss the conditions for a peaceful and political solution to the Kurdish issue. It is necessary to face this situation politically and have the courage to talk to Mr. Öcalan, who, as I mentioned before, represents millions of people.”  

 

'HE MUST BE FREE FOR A SOLUTION'

 

Emphasizing that Öcalan must be physically free in order to play a role in solving the Kurdish issue, De Sanctis continued as follows: “Öcalan must speak as a free man. He must be able to speak freely, reason and dialog with his comrades, parties and people. He must have all the tools at his disposal to express and discuss his political position. He needs freedom to play a real political role.”