Latest news with #pro-Kurdish
Rudaw Net
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Sudani, Erdogan discuss Ankara-PKK peace talks
Also in Middle East PKK disarmament could be completed within four months: Kurdish lawmaker President Barzani plays key role in PKK peace talks, says veteran politician Turkey continues to strike PKK ahead of disarmament: Watchdog France hails Iraq ties, stresses Kurdish inclusion in Syria's future A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday discussed the peace process between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) over the phone, hailing the talks as key to promoting regional stability. Sudani 'congratulated Mr. Erdogan on the peace agreement between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers' Party, stressing that the agreement will have a positive impact on the region, promoting stability, advancing development, and benefiting its people,' said a statement from Sudani's office. The PKK on Friday held a landmark ceremonial disarmament in Sulaimani province with 30 members and commanders - divided equally between men and women - burning their weapons before heading back to their hideouts. The decision to lay down arms was made following a call earlier this year by jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan for the PKK to pursue politics instead of armed conflict. On Saturday, Erdogan said that the formation of a parliamentary commission will be a 'first step' in peace talks between Turkey and the PKK, accusing previous governments of having oppressed Kurds instead of focusing on trying to end the PKK's armed struggle. He also admitted that Ankara had relied on 'wrong policies' in dealing with the PKK. Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) is the main mediator of the talks between the Turkish state and the PKK. Sudani and Erdogan also discussed bilateral ties during the phone call, as well as 'the need to prevent further escalation and resolve issues within the framework of dialogue and international laws and treaties,' according to the statement. The PKK, established in 1978, initially sought Kurdish independence before shifting its focus to securing political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. It is designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara and its Western allies.
Rudaw Net
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
PKK disarmament could be completed within four months: Kurdish lawmaker
Also in Middle East Sudani, Erdogan discuss Ankara-PKK peace talks President Barzani plays key role in PKK peace talks, says veteran politician Turkey continues to strike PKK ahead of disarmament: Watchdog France hails Iraq ties, stresses Kurdish inclusion in Syria's future A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The disarmament process of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) could be completed within four months if the Turkish government and all parties cooperate, a senior member of Turkey's pro-Kurdish party and part of the delegation involved in the peace process said. Mithat Sancar, Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) lawmaker and a member of the Imrali delegation that visited jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, told Rudaw on Friday that the recent 'historic' ceremony in Sulaimani province was a 'big step' in the right direction "This process has been ongoing for six or seven months, and now a big step has been taken," Sancar said. "Perhaps after another three to four months this issue will end,' he said. The PKK on Friday held a landmark ceremonial disarmament in Sulaimani province with 30 members and commanders - divided equally between men and women - burning their weapons before heading back to their hideouts. The decision to lay down arms was made following a call earlier this year by jailed leader Ocalan for the PKK to pursue politics instead of armed conflict. Sancar emphasized that new "peace laws" and integration measures will be needed to allow former fighters to re-enter civilian life and participate in democratic politics. He added that a parliamentary commission is expected to be formed within a week to prepare these proposals. While local leaders and the PKK have taken steps toward de-escalation, Sancar stressed that the Turkish state also needs to act. "This shouldn't be prolonged," he said. "A plan needs to be made, a mechanism established, and laws need to be passed." He noted that the decision to burn the weapons rather than surrender them was deeply symbolic. "They say, 'We are laying down arms by our own will … and we want peace, we want a democratic solution.'" Sancar, who visited Ocalan on Imrali island as part of the delegation, said the PKK leader appeared in good health and remained "prepared for this process," as he continues to draft ideas for politics and society and has called for broader engagement, including visits by journalists, academics, and politicians. The PKK, established in 1978, initially sought Kurdish independence before shifting its focus to securing political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. It is designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara and its Western allies. Hevidar Zana contributed to this report.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
PKK disarms in blaze of weapons: Region hails new path to peace
Shafaq News On Friday, July 11, a dramatic scene unfolded on a secluded hillside outside al-Sulaymaniyah, in Iraq's northern Kurdistan Region, where dozens of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters staged a rare public disarmament ceremony. Marching in silence, each guerrilla laid down an AK-47, sidearm, or bandolier into a grey iron cauldron before stepping back. As the pile of weapons grew shoulder-high, attendants doused it in fuel and set it ablaze, sending flames and thick black smoke skyward in a powerful symbolic act. Four senior PKK commanders watched from a raised platform, led by Bese Hozat, co-chair of the Kurdistan Community Union (KCK) and the group's most senior figure to appear publicly since its March truce declaration. Reading in Turkish, Hozat declared, 'The era of armed struggle is over,' and pledged to address the Kurdish question through 'democratic, civilian means,' calling for dialogue grounded in 'justice, freedom, and mutual respect.' The event's choreography reflected its political weight. Officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs and al-Sulaymaniyah Province stood alongside delegates from Iraq's National Intelligence Service (INIS). Turkiye dispatched senior officers from the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the General Directorate of Security. Three lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which has helped mediate between Ankara and the PKK, also attended. Yet, not all voices made it to the hillside. Originally open to civil society figures and local leaders, the invitation list was abruptly trimmed the night before due to 'deteriorating security conditions.' The ceremony ended with a moment of silence for 'all martyrs of the Kurdish struggle.' The fighters regrouped, saluted their commanders, and boarded unmarked buses headed for the Qandil Mountains, as Iraqi police secured the site. Soon after, Mola Nader of the Group for Peace and Democratic Society confirmed to Shafaq News that the fighters had returned to Jasana Mountain. He urged Turkiye to issue a general amnesty and embrace constitutional reforms ensuring inclusive citizenship. A statement from the group credited PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan and the party's 12th congress for guiding the shift, reaffirming a commitment to achieving 'freedom, democracy, and socialism' through peaceful means. It warned that the Middle East is descending into bloodshed and called on regional and global actors to respect Kurdish rights and support democratic transformation through education, grassroots organization, and political reform. This unprecedented event came just two months after the PKK officially announced its dissolution on May 12, ending a 47-year armed campaign that claimed more than 40,000 lives. Kurdistan Throws Weight Behind Peace Kurdistan's top political figures moved quickly to endorse the shift. Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Leader Masoud Barzani, meeting with a delegation from Turkiye's Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) at the Saladin Resort, described the disarmament as 'significant and moving in the right direction.' Stressing that 'ten years of dialogue outweigh one hour of war,' he urged all Kurdish parties to support the peace process and emphasized that political struggle, not violence, is the path forward. President Nechirvan Barzani echoed this support, calling the ceremony 'an encouraging step' and a meaningful show of political intent. While symbolic, he stressed, the gesture could open a new phase of dialogue and cooperation. He reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region's full commitment to supporting peace efforts and carrying any responsibilities required to sustain them. Amid regional volatility, Barzani offered a clear message: 'Peace makes us brothers,' he stated, affirming that success in the process would benefit Turkiye, Kurdistan, and the region at large. He also thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his leadership and extended respect to Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Leader Devlet Bahceli, Ocalan, and all individuals contributing to the process. Baghdad Welcomes 'Milestone' in PKK Disarmament From Baghdad, Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs framed the ceremony as 'an important milestone' and 'a real opportunity' for reconciliation. It praised the move as a practical beginning to end decades of armed conflict and encouraged renewed efforts toward peaceful coexistence. Iraq emphasized that this step could reduce tensions, strengthen cooperation with Turkiye, and lay the groundwork for a wider regional dialogue—one that confronts the roots of conflict and builds long-term stability while respecting mutual sovereignty. A Greater Turkiye in Sight In Ankara, President Erdogan welcomed the PKK's disarmament as the dawn of a new era and thanked both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region for their role in the process. Addressing supporters, he estimated that the conflict had claimed nearly 10,000 Turkish soldiers and cost Turkiye around $2 trillion. 'The 47-year plague of terrorism has entered its final stage,' he declared. 'Today marks a new beginning and opens the doors to a stronger, greater Turkiye.' The Turkish president further stressed that unity was key to progress: 'When hearts unite, borders disappear.' As part of the next steps, Erdogan announced plans to form a parliamentary committee to begin discussing the legal framework needed to advance the handover of weapons. 'This phase demands sensitivity, and we will closely monitor the process.' Others in Ankara echoed the sentiment. Bahceli called it a key moment in ending 'separatist violence.' Justice and Development Party (AKP) Spokesperson Omer Celik described the ceremony as the first step in a broader disarmament effort and called for rapid implementation to achieve a 'future free from terrorism.' Still, not everyone was convinced. Some voices warned the move might be largely symbolic, pointing to the possibility that the PKK still retains weapons in remote strongholds. Without transparency or independent oversight, they cautioned, the ceremony could fall short of a genuine end to military operations. Wave of Attacks Preceded PKK Peace Gesture In the weeks leading up to the al-Sulaymaniyah event, Turkish military operations across Iraqi Kurdistan showed no signs of slowing. According to the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), 550 Turkish attacks were recorded between June 1 and June 30, including 525 artillery shellings and 25 airstrikes. Operations were concentrated—98%—in Duhok province, particularly the Al-Amadiya district, with only nine shellings recorded in Sidakan, Erbil Province. Although the monthly increase in strikes was modest—up 8% from May—overall activity remains above pre-ceasefire levels. Analysts attribute the focus to Ankara's effort to establish a buffer zone devoid of PKK presence near the border. The PKK, for its part, launched four suicide drone attacks on Turkish bases in Sgire on June 16 and 24, describing them as defensive actions. Since January, 1,678 Turkish military strikes have been recorded across the Kurdistan Region: 1,484 in Duhok, 140 in Erbil, and 54 in al-Sulaymaniyah. The violence has claimed three civilian lives and left six others injured, casting a long shadow over the symbolic gestures unfolding just weeks later.
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Turning point as Kurdish fighters destroy weapons
Published on: Saturday, July 12, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 12, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: Founded by Ocalan, the PKK took up arms in 1984, beginning a string of bloody attacks on Turkish soil that sparked a conflict that cost more than 40,000 lives. SULAIMANIYAH: Thirty PKK fighters destroyed their weapons at a ceremony in Iraqi Kurdistan on Friday, two months after the Kurdish rebels ended their decades-long armed struggle against the Turkish state. The ceremony marks a turning point in the transition of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) from armed insurgency to democratic politics, as part of a broader effort to draw a line under one of the region's longest-running conflicts. Analysts say the PKK's military weakness makes disarmament a face-saving move, while allowing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to claim victory over a decades-long insurgency. At the brief ceremony, which took place in a cave in the mountains of northern Iraq, a first batch of 30 militants were seen burning their weapons, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. 'Thirty PKK fighters, four of whom were commanders, burned their weapons,' said the correspondent who was present at the cave near the city of Sulaimaniyah, in the autonomous Kurdistan region in Iraq's north. Throughout the morning, cars could be seen pulling up to the Casene cave, a symbolic location that once housed a Kurdish printing press, Firat news agency said. Founded by Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK took up arms in 1984, beginning a string of bloody attacks on Turkish soil that sparked a conflict that cost more than 40,000 lives. But more than four decades on, the PKK in May announced its dissolution, saying it would pursue a democratic struggle to defend the rights of the Kurdish minority in line with a historic call by Ocalan, who has been serving a life sentence in Turkey since 1999. 'As a gesture of goodwill, a number of PKK fighters, who took part in fighting Turkish forces in recent years, will destroy or burn their weapons in a ceremony,' a PKK commander told AFP on July 1, speaking on condition of anonymity. Tensions rose ahead of the ceremony as two drones were shot down overnight near Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga bases, one in Sulaimaniyah, and the other in Kirkuk, according to officials who did not say was behind the attacks. No casualties were reported. At the ceremony were officials representing Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq's Kurdistan region, veteran Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Iraqi and Kurdistan interior ministries, an AFP correspondent said. Also present were several lawmakers from Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM party and a handful of journalists, with Turkish media saying representatives from Ankara's intelligence agency were also there. The start of the PKK's disarmament is a key step in the months-long indirect negotiations between Ocalan and Ankara that began in October with Erdogan's blessing, and have been facilitated by Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM party. 'I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons. And I urge you to put this principle into practice,' Ocalan said in a video message released on Wednesday, pledging that the disarmament process would be 'implemented swiftly'. Erdogan said peace efforts with the Kurds would gain momentum after the PKK began laying down its weapons. 'The process will gain a little more speed when the terrorist organisation starts to implement its decision to lay down arms,' he said at the weekend. 'We hope this auspicious process will end successfully as soon as possible, without mishaps or sabotage attempts,' he added on Wednesday. In recent months, the PKK has taken several historic steps, starting with a ceasefire and culminating in its formal dissolution announced on May 12. The shift followed an appeal on February 27 by Ocalan, who has spent the past 26 years in solitary confinement on Imrali prison island near Istanbul. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Rudaw Net
3 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Erdogan says parliamentary commission ‘first step' in PKK peace talks
Also in Turkey Turkey's ruling party calls for dissolution of PKK affiliates Turkey's ultra-nationalist leader hails 'historic' PKK disarmament PKK says peace process cannot proceed unilaterally PKK disarmament ceremony to proceed without live broadcast: DEM Party A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said that the formation of a parliamentary commission will be a 'first step' in peace talks between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a day after the Kurdish group held a historic disarmament ceremony. 'The problem of terror that has been lingering in our nation for 47 years has, God willing, entered the process of ending,' Erdogan said at a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). 'The wall of terror is being obliterated.' He accused previous Turkish governments of having oppressed Kurds instead of focusing on trying to end the PKK's armed struggle and said that a parliamentary commission will be formed as a 'first step' to resolving the conflict. The PKK on Friday held a ceremonial disarmament in the Kurdistan Region's Sulaimani province. Thirty fighters and commanders - divided equally between men and women - burned their weapons in a gesture of goodwill before heading back to their mountain hideouts. The disarmament was a major step towards ending decades of a conflict that has spilled out of Turkey's borders and into the Kurdistan Region and Syria. 'In recent years, we almost put an end to the maneuverability and the operational capacity of the terrorist organization… thanks to our cross-border operations in Iraq and the revolution in Syria on December 8,' Erdogan stated. The PKK was founded in 1978 in response to discrimination against Turkey's Kurdish population. The party launched its armed struggle several years later. Erdogan admitted that Ankara had relied on 'wrong policies' in dealing with the PKK. 'We paid a huge price for wrong policies. We did not only lose civilians and security forces as martyrs, but the Republic of Turkey has been destabilized by the terror attacks,' Erdogan said, adding that some 10,000 members of security forces have been killed in the conflict. In his speech, he also thanked his party, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) for their efforts, saying that they will collectively 'cherish' the Ankara-PKK peace process. DEM Party has mediated talks between the PKK and Ankara after MHP leader Devlet Bahceli in October invited PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan to address the parliament. In February, Ocalan, who has been in jail since 1999, called on the PKK to lay down arms and pursue a political path to securing Kurdish rights in Turkey. In a video message released Wednesday, Ocalan reaffirmed the PKK's historic departure from armed conflict and called for the formation of a parliamentary commission to guide the peace process.
