The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) announced “historic decisions” during a congress held this week after its imprisoned leader called for the group to dissolve, according to a news agency on Friday—marking a crucial step towards ending its prolonged conflict with Turkey.
The Firat news agency reported the PKK as saying it held its congress on May 5-7 in northern Iraq, where the outlawed group is now based. But the PKK statement it published did not say whether the insurgents had decided to disband or disarm.
Any PKK decision to formally disarm and dissolve, which is not guaranteed, would have far-reaching political and security consequences for the region, including in neighbouring Syria where Kurdish forces are allied with U.S. forces.
It would also give President Tayyip Erdogan a historic opportunity to develop mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey, where violence has killed thousands and hamstrung the regional economy in 40 years of conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state.
“The PKK 12th Congress made decisions of historic importance regarding PKK activities based on the call of Leader Apo,” the PKK was cited by Firat as saying, referring to PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan who has been imprisoned in Turkey for 26 years.
More detailed information would be shared with the public “very soon,” it said.
Ocalan, who is serving a life sentence, issued a statement on Feb. 27 calling for the PKK to disarm and disband.
The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies. There have been intermittent peace efforts over the years, most notably a ceasefire between 2013 and 2015 that ultimately collapsed.
‘Weapons To Dialogue’
The PKK declared a ceasefire in March following the disarmament appeal by Ocalan, and its congress announcement had been expected by the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, the third largest in Turkey’s parliament.
“We are all awaiting this historic decision with great seriousness and importance,” DEM Party spokesperson Aysegul Dogan told reporters after a party board meeting.
“This historic opportunity must be made permanent. Weapons must give way to dialogue,” she said, adding that the DEM hoped for mutual steps towards lasting peace, with political and legal groundwork essential.
DEM has played a key role facilitating Ocalan’s public call to his PKK, including visits to his island prison near Istanbul, and has since held talks with Erdogan and other government officials seeking to propel the potential peace process.
The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, mainly focused in the country’s southeast.
Earlier this week, Erdogan’s AK Party spokesperson Omer Celik said the elimination of tensions through the PKK’s dissolution and disarmament would strengthen Turkish democracy.
“Every concrete step taken towards ending terrorism, dissolving itself and laying down arms by the terrorist organisation will bring new positive responses and steps.
“It is extremely important for the terrorist organisation to announce its decision to dissolve and lay down arms as soon as possible,” Celik added.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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