UN welcomes Ocalan's call on the PKK to disarm, disband
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NEW YORK - The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday welcomed the call by the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan for the group he founded over 40 years ago to lay down arms and dissolve itself to pave the way for a peace process in Turkey. The move offers a glimmer of hope, Guterres added.
'The Secretary General welcomes this important development. This represents a glimmer of hope which would lead to a resolution of a long standing conflict,' Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for Guterres, said during a press briefing.
'This is an extremely important event and news we received today,' Dujarric told Rudaw during the event.
'We are monitoring the situation. We are trying, obviously, to get more details on exactly the next steps. What I can tell you is that, for us, it really offers a glimmer of hope in a conflict that has been going on for so long, in which so many civilians have suffered and paid the ultimate price,' he added.
Ocalan said in a letter, which was read out by the delegation that has visited him several times to mediate peace talks between Ankara and the PKK, that the PKK must convene and make a decision - 'all groups must lay down their arms, and the PKK must dissolve itself.'
Founded in 1978, the PKK initially advocated for the establishment of an independent Kurdistan but now seeks autonomy. Turkey, the European Union, and the United States classify the group as a terrorist organization.
The PKK began its armed struggle against the Turkish state in 1984. The conflict has caused at least 40,000 casualties from both sides and civilians.
A spokesperson for the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement that the German leader welcomes the move by Ocalan.
UK has also welcomed the development.
"We welcome progress towards peace and security for the people of Turkey, a close NATO Ally and longstanding partner in counter-terrorism. We encourage all parties to engage in a peaceful and constructive process that ensures security, stability, and respect for the rule of law," a UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson, said, reported Reuters.
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