Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan has called for the disarmament of the PKK in a message conveyed by Ahmet Türk on Thursday.The imprisoned leader urged the organization to disarm, disband, and convene a congress. During a press conference following their meeting with Öcalan, the Imrali delegation presented his message in both Kurdish and Turkish.
Dismissed Mardin Mayor Ahmet Türk conveyed Öcalan’s message, emphasizing that the PKK was formed in response to the obstruction of democratic avenues and that advocating for a language of peace and democracy is essential. “The PKK must disarm, disband, and convene a congress,” the message asserted. Ocalan expressed his readiness to take responsibility for this decision and ensure the continuation of peace talks.
Regional Reactions to Abdullah Ocalan call
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani has welcomed a message from imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, which calls for the disarmament of the PKK. The statement, delivered by Ahmet Türk on Thursday, has generated renewed hope for a peaceful resolution to the longstanding conflict.In response, the Kurdistan Region Presidency called on the PKK to heed Öcalan’s message, highlighting that a peaceful, civil, and democratic approach is the most effective way forward.”It is time to embrace a peaceful, civil, and democratic struggle; this will yield better results than resorting to weapons and violence,” the statement emphasized.
A State Department spokesperson acknowledged reports regarding the recent message from Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), urging the group to disarm and dissolve itself.The statement noted that the U.S. welcomes any efforts aimed at ending armed conflict and enhancing regional stability. However, the State Department reiterated that Washington still categorizes the PKK as a terrorist organization and remains committed to countering terrorism in the area.
The announcement has elicited a variety of international reactions, with Iran and Saudi Arabia expressing their support for the initiative, while Turkey maintains its demand for the disbandment of all PKK-affiliated factions in Iraq and Syria.Öcalan’s message is central to ongoing efforts aimed at resolving the Kurdish-Turkish conflict through political dialogue. The upcoming weeks will reveal whether this call leads to concrete actions toward de-escalation and conflict resolution.
