Öcalan Says Talks an historic Step, Urges Caution.
by Mahmoud Abu Ghosh
http://www.indynewsisrael.com
Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), called talks with Turkish officials aiming to halt a decades-long conflict a “historic step” and urged all sides involved to show “care and sensitivity.”
His brief message was conveyed Saturday by three pro-Kurdish legislators who were permitted to travel to his prison island off Istanbul to confer about the peace process.
The government declared in December that it was holding talks with Öcalan with the goal of convincing PKK rebels to declare a cease-fire and disarm.
Legislator Pervin Buldan told reporters that Öcalan also expressed hope officials and soldiers kidnapped by the rebels would soon be released.
The PKK has been fighting to free northern Kurdistan from Turkish occupation since 1984.
Over 40,000 people, mostly Kurds, have since lost their lives in the conflict.
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