WAN - Müslüm Erbay, the president of the Eastern Federation of Industry and Business (DOĞUSİFED), said the ongoing peace process should be reinforced with concrete democratic and economic measures.

 

Speaking about the Peace and Democratic Society Process initiated by Kurdish People’s Leadr Abdullah Öcalan on February 27, 2025, Erbay stated that the process continues to be discussed not only in political circles but also within the business community. “The peace process is important for society, but it needs to be strengthened with democratic and economic steps,” he said.

 

‘THE STATE IS MOVING SLOWLY’

 

Erbay said the business community welcomed the process with optimism but noted that the pace of progress differs between the parties involved. He said: “This is a process carried out by two sides. While one side is advancing more quickly, the other side — the state — is moving more cautiously and slowly.”

 

Erbay emphasized the enormous cost of the decades-long conflict: “We conducted a preliminary study showing that around 4 trillion dollars has been spent on the war over the past 42 years.”

 

Erbay stated that the majority of the economic losses have affected eastern regions of the country and added: “In western parts of the country, people were able to continue farming and use their pastures, but in this region villages were evacuated and pastures were banned, causing serious economic damage.”

 

‘THE ECONOMY MUST BE STRENGTHENED’

 

Erbay said the region has two major needs: strengthening social solidarity and improving the economy. “One is developing a sense of brotherhood and social justice, and the other is strengthening the economy,” he said.

 

He noted that the business community has an important role in this process, especially in reducing economic disparities between eastern and western regions of Turkey. “We must work to improve regional development and close the gap in gross national income between east and west,” he said.

 

‘IMPRISONED POLITICIANS DO NOT FIT THE SPIRIT OF THE PROCESS’

 

Erbay also argued that the continued imprisonment of Kurdish politicians contradicts the spirit of the peace process. “Kurdish politics has faced many hardships and paid heavy costs. Many Kurdish politicians are still in prison,” he said.

Erbay added: “It would be valuable for imprisoned politicians to be released and for elected mayors to return to their positions, in accordance with democratic principles, instead of trustees being appointed.”

 

‘ECONOMY SHOULD BE A PRIORITY’

 

Erbay emphasized that economic development should be a central priority for Kurdish political actors. He pointed out that the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party holds strong political influence in Wan and in other parts of the region. “If Kurdish politics has two agendas, one of them must definitely be the economy,” he said.

 

Erbay welcomed the fact that DEM Party leaders have recently begun to focus more on economic discussions and called for initiatives that encourage investment and regional development. He also suggested organizing economic workshops at local, regional, and national levels to promote development from villages to cities.

 

MA / Lutfu Pala