Turkiye hails PKK dissolution as historic step toward national unity
Omer Celik, spokesperson for the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, said the PKK's dissolution—announced following a call by imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan—marks 'an important step toward the goal of a terror-free Turkiye.'
'The decision of the PKK to dissolve itself and lay down its arms following the call from Imrali is an important step,' Celik said, referring to Ocalan's detention on Imrali Island. 'If fully implemented—through the dismantling of all PKK branches and illegal structures—it will represent a turning point.'
Celik emphasized that Turkish state institutions will closely monitor the implementation process on the ground, with all developments reported directly to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He underscored that the process is being guided by a comprehensive state strategy, reflecting Erdogan's 'long-standing commitment' to internal security and national cohesion.
He also credited the 'historic call' and support of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, whose alliance with the AK Party has reinforced Turkiye's domestic political front.
'This process is about much more than ending armed activity—it is about restoring the primacy of democratic politics as the legitimate framework for addressing differences,' Celik noted. He said that productive dialogue among political institutions has enabled Turkiye to move beyond armed conflict toward a future rooted in citizenship and constitutional values.
Celik also warned against complacency, stressing that the decision must be implemented 'in all its aspects, both internally and externally.' He argued that full and concrete action is necessary to block foreign efforts to destabilize the region through proxy militias.
'A truly terror-free Turkiye will empower democratic institutions, strengthen national unity, and allow all political actors to operate more freely and effectively,' he said, adding that the Parliament and broader political system will benefit from the removal of threats posed by terrorism.
Sayın Cumhurbaşkanımızın 'terörsüz Türkiye' için ortaya koyduğu yüksek siyasi iradesi ve sürecin koordinatlarını 'devlet politikası' olarak çizen kapsayıcı ve net yaklaşımı ile Sayın Devlet Bahçeli'nin tarihi çağrısı, gelişmelere dönük duruşu ve yönlendirmeleri, topyekun 'iç…
— Ömer Çelik (@omerrcelik) May 12, 2025
The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, announced its dissolution earlier Monday through the Firat News Agency. The group described the move as the conclusion of its 'historical mission' and called for a redefinition of Turkish-Kurdish relations through political means.
The development follows a February appeal by Ocalan, who urged all affiliated armed groups to disband and shift focus to political engagement.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
25 minutes ago
- Rudaw Net
Association calls on Zaza Kurds in Turkey to boost mother tongue
Also in Turkey Turkish parliament forms PKK peace talks commission DEM Party meets jailed PKK leader PKK demands constitutional changes in Turkey, refuses amnesty Ten dead in western Turkey wildfires A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The head of an Alawite association has called on Zaza Kurds in Turkey to preserve and promote their mother tongue. At the annual Munzur Festival in Tunceli (known to Kurds as Dersim), Zeynel Kete, co-chair of the Democratic Alevi Association (DAD), said the main language of the festival should be Kurdish, instead of the Turkish that often dominates the event. "This festival should be in the language of Khidr [Alewism], that is, in Kurdish. Language is our identity, language is our existence,' he told Rudaw's Mashallah Dakak. Zaza Kurds make up the majority of the population in Dersim, with most belonging to the Alawite faith. Various efforts have been made in Turkey to classify Zazaki and Kurmanji Kurds as separate languages. Turkish officials are accused of playing a role in promoting this division. 'All people of Dersim are Kurds and their religion is the Path of Truth [Alewism], and the language of the Path of Truth is Kurdish,' Kete noted. "Language is our identity, language is our existence. If a person is without language, they remain without culture, without religion and without belief." There are no reliable estimates on the number of the speakers of Zazaki dialect speakers of Kurdish language in Turkey.
Rudaw Net
an hour ago
- Rudaw Net
French FM speaks with SDF chief, expresses support for Syrian Kurds
Also in World KRG requested defence system from US: Official Paris to host next round of SDF-Damascus talks Israeli, Syrian officials meet in Paris US must pressure Syria to protect minority rights: USCRIF A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot spoke with Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on Friday to confirm that Paris will host the next round of talks between the SDF and Damascus. Barrot also reiterated France's support for Syrian Kurds, according to the French foreign ministry. 'This exchange provided an opportunity to confirm the upcoming holding in Paris of a negotiation session between the Syrian transitional authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces with a view to implement the March 10 agreement, under the auspices of France and the United States,' read a statement from the ministry. 'The minister reiterated France's support for defining a negotiated and peaceful solution for the unification of Syria, the integration of the population of northeastern Syria into the political transition process, and the guarantee of Kurdish rights,' said the statement from the French foreign ministry. Earlier in the day, Barrot met with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. The meeting, in which they discussed negotiations between the SDF and Damascus, was 'very frank and productive,' according to the French ministry. Abdi and Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on March 10 signed an agreement that outlines the future of the SDF and Rojava. While parts of the agreement have been implemented, key provisions - such as integrating the US-backed SDF into Syrian state forces - remain contested. Kurdish leaders have voiced concern over the centralization of power and the prominence of Islamic law in the transitional constitution adopted by Syria's interim government. They have repeatedly denied accusations of separatism and have called instead for federalism. Kurds held a national conference earlier this year, calling for decentralization. Following the conversation between Barrot and Abdi, an official from the Syrian foreign ministry told the state-run TV channel al-Ikhbariya that France has agreed to 'pressure the SDF to reach the solution desired by Syrians.' Qutaiba Idlibi, director of the American Affairs Department at the ministry, said that the scheduled meeting between the SDF and Damascus in Paris is the continuation of talks with the Kurdish-led force about their 'full integration.' In recent interviews, SDF representatives have said the force must retain its own weapons and join the Syrian army as a block. 'Handing over weapons is a red line. It is not possible to hand over weapons,' Farhad Shami, head of SDF media centre, told Syria's Alyaum TV on Wednesday. SDF spokesperson Abjar Dawoud told Saudi-based Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that the SDF could join the Syrian army 'through a constitutional and legal agreement that recognizes the specificity of our forces,' adding that they refuse to 'surrender' their weapons 'in light of the increase in the pace of violence' in Suwayda province, where at least 1,300 people were killed in a week of clashes. He said it is also 'impossible' for the SDF to hand over its weapons while the Islamic State (ISIS) remains a threat to northeast Syria. An unnamed senior official from the Syrian government told al-Ikhbariya on Thursday that the SDF's demands are not acceptable.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
France's top court cancels Al-Assad arrest order
Shafaq News – Paris On Friday, France's highest court annulled an arrest warrant issued against Former Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, over his alleged role in the 2013 chemical attacks near Damascus. The Court of Cassation ruled that heads of state are immune from prosecution in foreign courts, even in cases involving alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The original order, issued in November 2023, accused Al-Assad of complicity in the sarin gas attacks that killed more than 1,000 people in the towns of Adra and Douma, according to US intelligence assessments. Court President Christophe Soulard noted that although the original warrant is no longer valid due to Al-Assad's former status, new arrest orders could now be issued following his removal from power. Al-Assad was deposed in December 2024 and fled to Russia following a military takeover led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who later assumed the role of Syria's transitional president.
