NEWS CENTER_Leader Abdullah Öcalan addressed amessage to the Tweintieth Kurdish Conference held at the headquarters of the European Parliament in the Belgian capital, Brussels, today, Thursday, 15 October.

The text of the message addressed by Leader Abdullah Öcalan to the participants in the Twentieth Kurdish Conference held at the headquarters of the European Parliament in the Belgian capital, Brussels, said: "I salute the participants and the organizers of your twentieth conference, which is being held under the title 'The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East, and the Kurds.'

Undoubtedly, you have accomplished and are accomplishing extremely valuable work; therefore, I extend to you my abundant thanks and offer you my sincere respect. On 15 February 1999, I was transferred to İmralı 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 direct criticism at myself. It was said to me at the time: 'You have no foothold in Europe.' This conspiracy and these plots were carried out in isolation from the European peoples and without their knowledge, and were carried out with a 'Gladio' mentality, and undoubtedly you are struggling against this reality and working to change it.

The European Union, which took such a position at the time, must in the current phase act in accordance with its laws and principles. Taking a constructive position is of extreme importance, whether for the democratization of Turkey or for resolving the Kurdish issue. The fundamental way to confront the tendency toward authoritarianism and the rising far right in Europe lies in adhering to democratic values and advancing them properly.

The support provided through political and civil activities such as your conference, especially within the framework of the 'Peace and Democratic Society' process, is support for peace and democracy. Alongside that, your work and your conference should acquire a more sustainable and firmly established character. There is a need for new steps and broad international/global action; the importance of this work is manifested in its ability to combine the democratic accumulations and experiences in our regions with our peoples, and to launch a new intellectual model for democracy and socialism.

What we are doing in Turkey is valuable and extremely 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 in discussion in your conference. Despite the existence of major challenges and questions at the current time, we are proposing a comprehensive model for a solution. This work represents a historic 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 am fully confident that you, as dear friends and comrades, will work to expand this path and spread it on a wider scale."