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The Brazilian government advocates that BRICS maintain a balance in the representation of different regions of the world. On Tuesday, Brazilian President Lula da Silva spoke by phone with President Vladimir Putin after canceling his trip to Russia to participate in the BRICS summit.

The 20-minutes phone conversation focused on the domestic accident Lula suffered in Brasilia, as a result of which doctors recommended he avoid international travel. However, the Brazilian president confirmed that he would participate in the BRICS plenary session on Wednesday via videoconference.

On Saturday, Lula suffered a fall that caused a small cut on his neck, requiring five stitches. He is scheduled to undergo further examinations this Tuesday to assess his health condition.

At the BRICS summit, the Brazilian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. One of the central points of the summit will be the discussion of mechanisms to create a new category of associate countries within BRICS, without expanding the current list of nine forum members.

The BRICS group was founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Since January, it also includes Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia.

Currently, about 30 countries have publicly expressed interest in joining the forum, including Cuba, Venezuela, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia.

The Brazilian government advocates that BRICS maintain a balance in the representation of different regions of the world and that new members or associate countries have good relations with all forum members.

• What is the general ideology of the political elite? Do they tend to be protectionist nationalists, or are they more free trade globalists? Are they compradors put there by foreign powers? Are they socialists with wide support by the population?
• What are the most important domestic political issues that make the country different from other places in the region or world? Are there any peculiar problems that have continued existing despite years or decades with different parties?
• Is the country generally stable? Are there large daily protests or are things calm on average? Is the ruling party/coalition generally harmonious or are there frequent arguments or even threats?
• Is there a particular country to which this country has a very impactful relationship over the years, for good or bad reasons? Which one, and why?
• What are the political factions in the country? What are the major parties, and what segments of the country do they attract?
• Are there any smaller parties that nonetheless have had significant influence? Are there notable separatist movements?
• How socially progressive or conservative is the country generally? To what degree is there equality between men and women, as well as different races and ethnic groups? Are LGBTQIA+ rights protected?
• Give a basic overview of the last 50 or 100 years. What's the historical trend of politics, the economy, social issues, etc - rise or decline? Were they always independent or were they once occupied, and how have things been since independence if applicable?
• If you want, go even further back in history. Were there any kingdoms or empires that once governed the area?

Bahçeli had also addressed Öcalan at the party group meeting a week ago, saying, "He should unilaterally declare that terrorism is over and that his organization will be liquidated."

Speaking at his party's group meeting on Tuesday, Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the ruling party's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), once again called on Abdullah Öcalan, leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), who is in İmralı Prison, by saying, "If the isolation of the terrorist leader is lifted, let him come and speak at the DEM Party group meeting in the Turkish Grand National Assembly."

"Let them shout that terrorism has completely ended and the organization has been disbanded," said Bahçeli, adding, "Legal regulations regarding the use of the right to hope should be made and the way should be wide open for them to benefit from it."

Stating that they are ready to take responsibility for "a politics without terrorism", Bahçeli continued his words as follows: "If everyone is in alliance, we are ready to do our part, not just our hands but our bodies. Neither Kandil nor Edirne; the address should extend from İmralı to DEM, and this serious and historical terrorism problem should be completely removed from the country's agenda."

Bahçeli also said, "Who knows, maybe I will have taken the first step towards permanently solving the shackles that bind our nation." Bahçeli had also addressed Öcalan at the party group meeting a week ago, saying, " He should unilaterally declare that terrorism is over and that his organization will be liquidated ."

Bahçeli, recalling the words of Öcalan, who was captured in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, in February 1999, when he was brought to Turkey, "I love my country. My mother was Turkish too. If I have the opportunity to serve, I will do it. I will serve when I return to Turkey," asked the PKK leader to give instructions to "lay down the weapons."

The handshake at the opening of the parliament

At the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on Tuesday, October 1, MHP leader Bahçeli shook hands with the members of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) group.

Bahçeli shook hands with DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan, DEM Party Group Deputy Chairman Sezai Temelli, DEM Party Van Deputy Pervin Buldan and DEM Party Ağrı Deputy Sırrı Sakık. Asked by members of the press about his "handshake with the DEM Party", Bahçeli said, "While we want peace in the world, we need to ensure peace in our own country."

The following sentences stood out in Bahçeli's speech at the group meeting held last week, in which he also touched upon the handshake with the DEM Party in the parliament: "It is in everyone's best interest for the DEM Party to come to its senses on this issue and refrain from whipping up an environment of provocation in order to sabotage the hand I have extended. The hand I have extended is a sincere and well-intentioned hand. The hand I have extended is a message to unite in Turkey, to unite in the Turkish nation."

'I am ready to extend my hand for the interests of the Republic of Türkiye'

In last week's group meeting, Bahçeli, referring to the atmosphere of softening between the MHP and DEM Party, said, "When necessary, I extend my hand and call for a gathering around common and national values; when necessary, I extend my head for the homeland, the nation, the flag, the call to prayer, the state, and I drink the sherbet of martyrdom not just for a taste but to my heart's content. I am ready and willing to hold hands around basic and common values ​​and extend my hand in every environment for the sake of the supreme interests of the Republic of Turkey."

Speaking to Euronews Turkish a few weeks ago about Bahçeli shaking hands with the DEM Party group in parliament, DEM Party

Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Koçyiğit had commented , "We need to express that yesterday's handshake was due to the nature of politics. It was wrong that it had not happened until now . "

"We do not find it right to attribute a special meaning to shaking hands," said Koçyiğit, adding, "This is the nature of politics and the normality of the parliamentary foundation. This is exactly how it should be."

MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli shook hands with DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan, DEM Party Group Deputy Chairman Sezai Temelli, DEM Party Van Deputy Pervin Buldan and DEM Party Ağrı Deputy Sırrı Sakık.

Speaking to Euronews Turkish on Monday, DEM Party Group Deputy Chairman Sezai Temelli, who was one of the names who shook hands with Bahçeli, said , "Contrary to what was reflected in the press and public opinion, there is no resolution process on the agenda of Ankara politics . "

Former Justice and Development Party (AK Party) MP Mehmet Metiner told Euronews Turkish that he found "no harm" in the government's meeting with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Solution process in Turkey

The resolution process refers to the negotiations that began between the PKK and the Turkish state in Turkey between 2013 and 2015. This process was initiated with the aim of resolving the Kurdish issue through peaceful means.

The key elements of the process included disarmament, democratic reforms and the expansion of rights for Kurdish identity. PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan played a key role in these negotiations. However, the resolution process effectively ended with the resumption of conflict in 2015. This period brought about significant changes in the political dynamics in Turkey.

Founded on November 28, 1978 in the Lice district of Diyarbakır, the PKK is considered a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom, France, Turkey and many other states.

According to official figures, PKK militants have killed nearly 15,000 people in their attacks that have lasted nearly 40 years.

PKK leader Öcalan has been held in İmralı Prison on the Sea of ​​Marmara since 1999, when he was sentenced to life imprisonment for founding and leading a terrorist organization.