Seven political parties, meeting on February 26 in Turkey’s capital Ankara to discuss the creation of a democratic front, released a joint statement on the war in Ukraine.
The parties include the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which initiated the meeting, the Labour Party (EMEP), the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP), the Labour Movement Party (EHP), the Social Freedom Party (TÖP) and the Federation of Socialist Assemblies and People’s Houses.
The statement said: “The capitalist system is not concerned with the welfare of humanity. It is likely to open the gates, for the interests of energy and arms monopolies, to a new war that will pitch people against each other in a fierce fight.
“This is actually what is behind the war and invasion that followed the rising tensions in the Donbas between Ukraine and Russia.
“We are not a party of the expansionist policies — the policies that defy peoples’ will — of Russia, or NATO, led by the United States.
“We reject the unjust wars and the calls for recruiting people to become parties in such wars. We are the parties of peace. We are on the same side with the people who have stood against war all over the world.”
The statement urged the Turkish administration not to be party in a conflict that is likely to trigger a “third world war”.
“We warn the administration of the AKP [Justice and Development Party] which has been acting aggressively in recent years against neighbouring peoples and which has been in armed conflict with them,” it continued. “Turkey cannot be recruited to the war camp of either NATO nor Russia.”
The statement called upon the warring parties in Ukraine to cease armed conflict, and the forces of the invasion to draw back, adding:
“The instructions issued by the parties of the war show that they have actually reached a level of insanity even to have their nuclear weapons ready for use. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Vietnam and Halabja are the historical scenes of such brutality. We will not be silent in the face of such threats.”
[Abridged from Medya News.]