Ceasefire between PKK and Turkey: Ocalan’s call marks historic turning point

PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan calls on militants to lay down their arms, declaring an end to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and paving the way for peace with Turkey

Militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have declared a ceasefire with Turkey, responding to an appeal by their leader Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned since 1999 on Imrali Island. Ocalan called for the dissolution of the PKK and the abandonment of arms, a historic step for the Kurdish movement, which is considered a terrorist organization by the Ankara government.

In a statement released by the ANF news agency, the PKK’s executive committee announced, “To pave the way for the implementation of leader Apo’s (Ocalan) call for peace and a democratic society, we declare a ceasefire starting today.”

Ocalan’s appeal and Turkey’s reaction

Ocalan’s appeal was echoed in statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who called it a “historic opportunity to destroy the wall of terror” and move toward a new phase of peace. The spokesman for Erdogan’s AKP party, Omer Celik, also urged Kurdish fighters in Iraq and Syria to lay down their weapons, stressing that the call also covers the YPG, the main component of the Syrian Democratic Forces, considered by Turkey to be the Syrian arm of the PKK.

Celik reiterated that the Turkish government will continue to closely monitor the evolution of the process, combining a hard approach in military operations in Iraq and Syria with a soft approach, i.e., inviting armed groups to lay down their weapons.

A new phase for the Kurdish conflict

The ceasefire announced by the PKK and Ocalan’s call for peace represent a crucial turning point in the long conflict between the Turkish government and Kurdish militants. After decades of violence and military operations on both sides, the possibility of a peaceful solution seems more concrete than ever, although challenges remain on the political and diplomatic fronts.

Statements by Erdogan and Celik show a readiness on Turkey’s part to welcome this new phase with caution, while continuing to maintain high military pressure on Kurdish armed groups active in the region. However, the success of this peace process will depend on the willingness of the different factions involved to finally give up arms and engage in constructive dialogue.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)