Turkiye’s Erdogan says PKK leader’s call to disband is historic opportunity

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that Abdullah Öcalan's call for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to disband and disarm represents a "historic opportunity." Simultaneously, senior members of the President's party are demanding the dissolution of PKK's branches in Iraq and Syria, indicating a comprehensive approach to resolving the conflict.

Erdoğan said on Friday: "We have a historic opportunity to move towards the goal of destroying the wall of terror." This followed a statement issued a day earlier by imprisoned PKK founder Öcalan. Öcalan sent an important message from prison, calling on the PKK to hold a congress and make a decision to lay down arms and dissolve itself. This message, conveyed by officials from Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party, is part of a new initiative to end the decades-long war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Ankara and its Western allies consider the PKK a terrorist organization, which has long been fighting against the Turkish state. The PKK is headquartered in northern Iraq, and its leadership has not yet responded to Öcalan's call. Erdoğan stated that Turkey will be "closely monitoring" to ensure that negotiations to end the insurgency "succeed completely," and warned against any "provocations."

Erdoğan said: "When the pressure of terrorism and weapons is eliminated, the space for democratic politics will naturally expand." Earlier on Friday, Ömer Çelik, spokesperson for Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), stated that all groups affiliated with the PKK, including those outside Turkey, should comply with this call, emphasizing the need for a complete cessation of hostilities.

Çelik, referring to the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and its political wing, said: "Whether it is called PKK, YPG, or PYD, all extensions of this terrorist organization must dissolve themselves. We mean a complete liquidation of the organization and its members in Iraq and Syria." In Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes the YPG, welcomed Öcalan's call for disarmament, viewing it as an "opportunity" to build peace and a key to establishing correct and constructive relations in the region.

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi stated that Öcalan's call was directed at the PKK and had "no connection" with their forces. Meanwhile, the DEM Party stated that it hopes the Erdoğan government will take immediate steps towards democratization. Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, Deputy Chairman of the DEM Party's parliamentary group, said: "The government should now take responsibility and take steps towards democratization. This is our demand as citizens of this country." She also added: "The ball is now in the government's court. If there is no democratization, and the government continues to ignore our basic freedoms, how will we live together and build our future?"

In recent decades, Turkey has lifted restrictions on the use of the Kurdish language, especially after Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party came to power in 2002. However, some critics say that the state has not done enough to grant Turkish Kurds more rights. The new peace effort between the PKK and the Turkish state was initiated in October by Devlet Bahçeli, Erdoğan's ruling coalition partner. The far-right politician suggested that if Öcalan's organization renounces violence and disbands, he could be granted parole.

The 75-year-old Öcalan has been imprisoned on İmralı Island near Istanbul since 1999, after being convicted of treason. Despite his imprisonment, he still wields significant influence over the PKK, which he founded in 1978. Previous peace efforts with the PKK have all failed, most recently in 2015.