*Text of the message sent to the 20th Conference on the Kurds, held at the European Parliament in the Belgian capital, Brussels
I greet the participants and organizers of your 20th conference, held under the title ‘The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds.’
Undoubtedly, you have accomplished and are accomplishing highly valuable work; therefore, I extend my deep gratitude and present my sincere respect to you. On 15 February 1999, I was transferred to Imrali following an international conspiracy, and I am present here today as a result of the influence of NATO’s “Gladio.” In this context, I will not hesitate to self-criticize; I was told at the time: ‘You have no foothold in Europe.’ This conspiracy and these intrigues were executed in isolation from and without the knowledge of the European peoples, and were carried out with the “Gladio” mindset. Undoubtedly, you are struggling against this reality and working to change it.
The European Union, which took such a stance at that time, must in the current phase act in accordance with its laws and principles. Furthermore, its adoption of a constructive stance carries critical importance, both for the democratization of Turkey and for the resolution of the Kurdish issue. The primary path to confronting the trend toward authoritarianism and the rising far-right in Europe lies in adhering to democratic values and upholding them properly.
The support provided through political and civic activities—such as this conference of yours—especially within the framework of the “Peace and Democratic Society” process, is support for peace and democracy. In addition to that, your work and conference ought to acquire a more sustainable and established character. There is a need for new steps and broad internationalist/international work, as the importance of this effort is manifested in its ability to bring together the democratic accumulations and experiences in our regions and among our peoples, and to launch a new intellectual model for democracy and socialism.
What we are doing in Turkey is valuable and highly important work. Instead of war, genocide, and discrimination, we have launched a serious process to find legal, equal, and political solutions to societal issues. You can also address these matters for discussion in your conference; for despite the presence of major challenges and questions at the current time, we are putting forward a comprehensive model for a solution. This work represents a historical step for both Europe and the Middle East alike. The success of the “Peace and Democratic Society” process that we have proposed would enhance peace, stability, and democracy in the Middle East, and you too can contribute much to its success. I have full confidence that you, as dear friends and comrades, will work to expand this path and spread it on a broader scale.
I renew my congratulations to all participants in your conference, and I send you my greetings and sincere respect.
Abdullah Öcalan
Imrali
9 October 2026
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version:Click here
