ANKARA - Stating that all parties are parties to the solution of the Kurdish issue and that the isolation should be ended in order to solve this issue, Selahattin Demirtaş said: "Öcalan is the party to the negotiation. He is the legitimate interlocutor representing the political demands of the Kurds, the most effective actor."

The Kobanê Case continues with the defense of former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) CoChair Selahattin Demirtaş on the merits. Drawing attention to the words of AKP's Süleyman Soylu towards DEM Party Deputy Sırrı Sakık in the Parliament, "What kind of war is this fight against terrorism?", Demirtaş said: "This is called war. If this is not war, I remind you of domestic law. It is clear in the Turkish Armed Forces authorization law how operations will be carried out. Before entering into an operation, it is clear in the law what to do if there is an armed resistance. A call to 'surrender' is made. If it responds with a gun in response to the call to 'surrender', the area will be secured, these are written in the law. This is done according to the law. If he/she persists despite this, an operation is performed first to catch him alive. It is neutralized when necessary, in a way that does not endanger the civilian population."

CALL TO 'FOLLOW THE LAWS OF WAR'

Drawing attention that there was no call to "surrender" in the attacks carried out with UAVs(Drones) Demirtaş said: "It is directly subject to the Geneva Convention. Soylu, don't you know this? This is called the law of war. The law of war must be obeyed. Everyone must comply with this law. This is the law of war. We are radically against war. If these conflicts are taking place, it is called war and every voice must comply with this law. Our most honorable duty is to end the war and the conflicts.

'THE TURKISH STATE IS JUDGING US JUST BECAUSE WE ARE KURDS'

Stating that they were tried because they took part in democratic Kurdish politics, Demirtaş said: “The Turkish state is judging us for racist and nationalist purposes just because we are Kurds. We are being tried because we do not submit to Turkish racist ideology and theses. Kurdistan is our homeland. We are being tried for saying 'You cannot occupy or destroy Kurdistan'. In this hall, they want to condemn the reality of Kurds and Kurdistan in our person. Other than this, their political aim is to win referendums and elections and to keep us in prison to legitimize the one-man regime. I am Kurdish, my homeland is Kurdistan, both of my identities are honor, no one can judge these values."

'ÖCALAN IS THE LEGITIMATE INTERLOCUTOR AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE ACTOR'

Stating that the Kurdish people have the right to live with their own language and identity like other peoples in their homeland, Kurdistan, Demirtaş said: "The rights of the Kurdish people were taken away through policies of destruction and denial. The rights of the Kurds should be rebuilt with a new Constitution. Öcalan, who is unlawfully held in isolation in İmralı, is a party to the negotiation. It is a fact that the way to abandon the weapons depends on negotiations with Mr. Öcalan, and the state has surrendered its rights many times. It is a fact that Mr. Öcalan has played an important role in the solution and I believe he will continue to do so. He is the legitimate interlocutor and the most effective actor representing the political demands of the Kurds. On this occasion, the isolation in Imrali must be ended in order to build a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. I also salute those who are on hunger strike. Also, the Kurds All Kurdish political parties with a democratic solution perspective on the issue are parties and interlocutors in the solution. The place where the issue will be discussed and solved openly and transparently is the parliament. All parties are parties to the solution of the Kurdish issue. For these reasons, they support the meeting of the Republic of Turkey with Mr. Öcalan in order to end the last Kurdish rebellion peacefully. I defend it."