PKK leader says political framework key for peace with Turkey
His announcement came ahead of a planned PKK ceremony in northern Iraq to lay down weapons on Friday, some two months after the militant group said it was ending its decades-long armed struggle against the Turkish state in a conflict that cost more that 40,000 lives.
'The overall process of voluntary disarmament and the comprehensive commission envisioned to be established.. by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (parliament) are crucial. Care and sensitivity are essential,' Abdullah Ocalan said in a video message.
'This represents a voluntary transition from the phase of armed conflict to the phase of democratic politics and law. This should be considered a historic achievement, not a loss,' he said.
'I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons. And I urge you to put this principle into practise.'
DEM, Turkey's third-biggest party, has played a key role in facilitating an emerging peace deal between the government and Ocalan, who made a historic call for his militant group to disarm in February, saying it would now seek democratic ways to fight for the rights of the Turkish Kurdish minority.
DEM has submitted a proposal to set up a parliamentary commission which the 76-year-old militant on Sunday said would play 'play a major role' in overseeing the process.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Japan's defence minister visits Turkey for talks on defence cooperation, drones
FILE PHOTO: A Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat drone is pictured at SAHA EXPO Defence & Aerospace Exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey, October 27, 2022. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo ANKARA (Reuters) -Japan's defence minister will hold talks in Turkey on Tuesday on defence industry cooperation, including the possible supply of Turkish-made drones, as Tokyo expands the role of unmanned systems in its armed forces. Gen Nakatani is the first Japanese defence minister to make such an official trip to Turkey, a NATO member country that is keen to expand its economic and other ties beyond Europe and the Middle East. Turkey and Japan are both U.S. allies. Nakatani and Turkey's Defence Minister Yasar Guler are expected to "discuss ways to expand cooperation on defence equipment and technology and exchange views on regional developments", a diplomatic source in Ankara said. They also aim to increase contacts between the Turkish Armed Forces and Japan's Self-Defense Forces at unit level, the source added. Nakatani is also scheduled to visit Istanbul on Wednesday. Turkish and Japanese defence ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment. During the visit, Nakatani will tour Turkish defence companies and facilities including Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), navy shipyards and drone maker Baykar, according to a defence ministry source. "Apart from general matters, defence industry cooperation will be on the agenda... They will hold inspections regarding drones, but an agreement is not expected. It is too early for an agreement," the defence ministry source said. Turkey-backed firms have supplied drones to several countries, including Ukraine, while Japan is preparing to expand the use of unmanned aerial vehicles across its ground, air and naval forces. Japan is considering Turkish drones among potential options as part of this effort, the diplomatic source said. Turkey and Japan have both condemned Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though Ankara has maintained cordial relations with Moscow and has not joined Western economic sanctions against it. Nakatani's visit to Turkey is part of a regional tour from August 17–22 that also includes stops in Djibouti and Jordan. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay in Ankara and Timothy Kelly in TokyoEditing by Gareth Jones)
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Car set ablaze outside Turkish parliament before meeting on PKK disarmament
ANKARA (Reuters) -A car was set ablaze near Turkey's parliament on Tuesday in a grim reminder of decades of conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), just hours before families of some victims were to address a commission overseeing the group's disarmament. The PKK, which took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984, said in May it would disarm and dissolve. The parliamentary commission was launched this month to set a path towards lasting peace, which would also resonate in neighbouring Iraq and Syria. The white Renault Toros burned for a short time outside parliament's main gate on Tuesday morning. Police in Ankara said in a statement that a man detained for setting it alight suffered from psychological problems and also had a prior criminal record. In the 1990s, during one of the bloodiest phases of the PKK conflict, such vehicles became notorious in the mainly Kurdish southeast where they were linked to abductions and extrajudicial killings blamed on state-linked groups. More than 40,000 people were killed in the fighting over more than four decades. Families of security personnel and civilians killed in the conflict are due to speak at the parliamentary commission on Tuesday, with some expected to question the peace effort. The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies. Its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, had urged it to end the insurgency and some militants burned their weapons last month in a ceremony in northern Iraq - where they are now based - marking a symbolic first step. (Reporting by Ece ToksabayEditing by Jonathan Spicer and Gareth Jones)
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Lavrov discusses Alaska summit with Turkey, Hungary after US-Russia
MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held separate calls with his Turkish and Hungarian counterparts on Saturday. The discussions followed the inconclusive US-Russia summit in Alaska, where no agreement was reached on ending the Ukraine war. The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was initiated by Ankara. Both ministers reviewed the outcomes of the August 15 meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump. Turkey has positioned itself as a mediator, maintaining open channels with Russia, Ukraine, and NATO allies. Lavrov also spoke with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto about the Ukraine crisis in light of the Alaska summit. Hungary has faced criticism for its continued energy ties with Russia and opposition to EU sanctions. Prime Minister Viktor Orban called the world 'safer' post-summit, while EU leaders stressed Ukraine's sovereignty over its territory. - Reuters
