Latest news with #Ocalan
Rudaw Net
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Turkey's PKK peace commission will meet Tuesday
Also in Turkey Pro-Kurdish party demands guarantee for return of PKK fighters to Turkey Turkey's peace process commission to begin work in early August: Speaker Ocalan expects parliamentary commission will contribute to peace process Association calls on Zaza Kurds in Turkey to boost mother tongue A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The first meeting of Turkey's newly formed parliamentary commission established to provide legal and political frameworks for the disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) will take place on Tuesday, state media reported on Friday. Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus invited the 51 members of the commission to attend the inaugural meeting where they will make decisions about how the commission will operate, according to Anadolu Agency. The commission was established as part of peace negotiations between the Turkish government and the PKK. It includes members from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), the AKP's governing ally the ultranationalist Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) whose leader Devlet Bahceli last year launched the peace process by calling on jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan to announce his group's dissolution, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) that has been mediating the peace talks, and several other smaller parties, including Kurdish ones. As part of the peace process, the PKK held a disarmament ceremony in Sulaimani province on July 11, when 30 members and commanders burned their weapons. The group decided to lay down arms after Ocalan urged them to pursue a political solution to obtain rights for Kurds in Turkey instead of armed conflict. Some PKK fighters based in Duhok province told Rudaw in July that they fear reprisals if they return to Turkey. Many are opting to remain in the mountains. Cemil Bayik, co-chair of the executive council of PKK umbrella group the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), in July said they will not commit to further disarmament until Turkey makes legal reforms to address discrimination of its Kurdish population, and if Ankara fails to take action, then other groups will emerge and pick up the fight. A DEM Party delegation last week met with Ocalan, who said he hopes the parliamentary commission will make important contributions to the peace process. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has praised Ocalan, saying he 'has provided and continues to provide all kinds of support on this issue.'
Rudaw Net
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Pro-Kurdish party demands guarantee for return of PKK fighters to Turkey
Also in Turkey Turkey's peace process commission to begin work in early August: Speaker Ocalan expects parliamentary commission will contribute to peace process Association calls on Zaza Kurds in Turkey to boost mother tongue Turkish parliament forms PKK peace talks commission A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on Thursday called on the Turkish parliament to ensure that those members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) who are willing to lay down weapons and return to Turkey will not face legal issues. The Turkish parliament last Friday announced the establishment of the 51-member peace process commission on Friday. Its mandate is to provide the necessary legal and political frameworks for the disarmament of the PKK - a key step in the ongoing peace talks between the group and the Turkish state. "The commission must take on a historic responsibility. Why do I call it historic? Because we are currently talking about Turkey's democratic deficiency,' Aysegul Dogan, DEM Party spokesperson, told Rudaw. Thirty PKK fighters laid down their arms in a ceremony in Kurdistan Region's Sulaimani province on July 11. 'If they want to return to Turkey, if they want to engage in politics, how should they do so? If they want to study, how? Some of them left school and joined the armed struggle. And today they say, with their own free will and political leadership's call, they are ready to make a decision. If they want to return and rejoin civilian life, how can this be done? This commission must lay out the legal and political conditions for disarmament,' stated Dogan. The multiparty commission is expected to include 21 members from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), ten from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), and four each from the DEM Party and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Smaller parties will occupy the remaining seats. The DEM Party spokesperson noted that the commission cannot make decisions but recommend them to the parliament. "This commission cannot legislate on its own, because the Turkish parliament would not [allow that]. But the commission can make legal recommendations and refer them to the relevant parliamentary bodies. After those recommendations are made, they can be discussed in Turkey's general assembly, debated, and potentially passed into law. That is our hope,' she stated.
Rudaw Net
3 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi dinar nears official rate as market stabilizes
Also in Opinions Kurdistan Region's oil production before, after drone strikes Sarsang oil field attack and the Hamrin oil, gas contracts: five key questions Decoding Ocalan's message: The question of PKK disarmament and the future of Kurdish politics Kurdish intellectuals face challenges amid Turkey's Kurdish question A+ A- Iraq's national currency, the dinar, is showing strong signs of recovery, with the market rate steadily approaching the official exchange rate of 1,320 IQD to the US dollar. After a turbulent period of volatility and speculation, this shift signals something deeper than a temporary market correction - it's the product of deliberate government action, changing trade behaviors, and a structural shift in how Iraqis interact with money. From chaos to coordination Until recently, the dinar's value on the street was largely dictated by informal market players who thrived on gaps between official and parallel exchange rates. But over the past year, the Iraqi government has launched a wide-ranging campaign to take back control by tightening regulation, changing how dollars are accessed, and nudging both businesses and individuals toward official channels. The government's decision to ban US dollar transactions for local high-value purchases, especially in real estate and luxury goods, has played a major role in restoring demand for the dinar. Meanwhile, businesses that once relied on the Central Bank's daily auctions are now required to process foreign payments through correspondent banks, reducing the space for dollar hoarding and speculative arbitrage. 'Speculation is being replaced by structure,' said Mazhar Mohammed Salih, financial advisor to the Iraqi prime minister. 'The state has finally begun to set the rules, and the market is responding.' A new flow of dollars Beyond regulatory shifts, Iraq's economy is also undergoing subtle but important changes in how foreign currency flows in and out. The government has started compensating some international contractors in crude oil rather than cash. These companies then sell the oil on global markets and bring the dollars back into Iraq through their own channels - providing the economy with a fresh, non-Central Bank supply of hard currency. At the same time, Iraq's role as a re-export hub - once a key driver of black-market demand for dollars - has sharply declined. Stricter oversight at borders and more formal trade practices have undercut the once-lucrative business of reselling goods to countries like Iran, Syria, and Turkey through backdoor channels. As demand for cash dollars softens, the gap between the official and street rate is closing. And that gap, which for months symbolized inefficiency and mistrust, is now rapidly shrinking. 'There has been a clear shift in behavior,' said Manar al-Obaidi, head of investment firm FFC. 'Dollar demand is down, and confidence in the system is creeping back.' Structural overhaul meets economic cooldown The current trend is also rooted in longer-term structural changes. Iraq's economy is gradually becoming more formal. Small traders are getting easier access to official currency rates, electronic payments are on the rise, and retail imports are being managed through cooperatives that use the official rate. At the same time, Iraq is seeing a slowdown in public spending on infrastructure and large projects - partly a result of fluctuating oil revenues. With fewer imports flooding in, the overall demand for dollars has naturally declined. 'The fundamentals are shifting,' said economist Ahmed Tabaqchali. 'There's a mix of reform and slowdown happening together, and both are cooling the pressure on the currency.' The road ahead Iraq's challenge has never been about a lack of resources. With healthy foreign reserves and oil exports still strong, the question has always been whether those resources could be managed transparently and strategically. Now, for the first time in years, there's momentum toward that goal. The dinar's recovery is not just a technical market win - it's a reflection of rising trust in the state's ability to regulate and stabilize. Whether this trajectory holds will depend on consistent enforcement, sustained reforms, and the government's ability to shield its progress from political turbulence. But for now, the message from the market is clear: the dinar is no longer drifting - it's being steered. Omar Ahmed is editor-in-chief of Rudaw's Economy Desk. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rudaw.
Rudaw Net
5 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Turkey's peace process commission to begin work in early August: Speaker
Also in Turkey Ocalan expects parliamentary commission will contribute to peace process Association calls on Zaza Kurds in Turkey to boost mother tongue Turkish parliament forms PKK peace talks commission DEM Party meets jailed PKK leader A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's newly formed parliamentary commission - established to secure political and legal guarantees for the disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - is set to begin its work in early August, Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus announced on Sunday. "With the participation of all political parties, we established the Terror-Free Turkey Commission to facilitate the process of liberation from terrorism and to disarm terrorist organizations,' Kurtulmus stated. He added that the commission also aims to implement the political and legal reforms needed to support this process, noting that 'at the beginning of August, we will start these measures.' The Turkish parliament on Friday announced the establishment of the 51-member Peace Process Commission on Friday. Its mandate is to provide the necessary legal and political frameworks for the disarmament of the PKK - a key step in the ongoing peace talks between the group and the Turkish state. The multiparty commission is expected to include 21 members from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), ten from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), and four each from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Smaller parties will occupy the remaining seats. Notably, the ultranationalist Good Party (IYI) has declined to participate in the commission. Kurtulmus emphasized that the commission - formed through consensus among parliamentary parties - 'will be a space where differing ideas can be debated and, ultimately, where concrete decisions serving the country's interest will be taken.' He described the commission's responsibilities as including submitting 'fulfilling responsibilities, submitting proposals to the Turkish Parliament' and helping Turkey 'become a country where terrorism is left behind.' The formation of the commission follows a symbolic gesture in early July, when 30 PKK fighters disarmed in the Kurdistan Region, in response to a February appeal by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. The act was widely seen as a show of goodwill in support of the peace talks with the Turkish state. Sezai Temelli, a DEM Party lawmaker, told Rudaw on Tuesday that the commission's core task is to ensure 'legal and political guarantees for the disarmament process.' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday reiterated his support for the formation of the commission, describing it as a "first step" in the peace efforts and emphasizing his commitment to building a "terrorism-free future" for his country. In a message released in early July - just two days before the symbolic PKK disarmament - Ocalan had also expressed optimism that the commission would make 'important' contributions to peace and democracy through a 'comprehensive and inclusive approach.' While the PKK has begun disarmament efforts, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) - an umbrella organization that includes the PKK - has called for reciprocal action from the Turkish government. Cemil Bayik, senior PKK commander and co-chair of the KCK executive council, stated on Thursday that the group is not seeking amnesty but rather 'constitutional changes' that would benefit 'all democratic forces.' Bayik argued that Turkey's constitution - adopted after the 1980 military coup - has failed to recognize minority rights and needs comprehensive reform. 'Laws in Turkey need to change, not just for the Kurds, but for all democratic forces,' he said. Founded in 1978, the PKK initially aimed to establish an independent Kurdish state. Over the years, its focus shifted toward achieving broader political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and several of its allies.
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Ocalan's cellmate freed as Turkiye renews Kurdish peace efforts
Shafaq News – Ankara Turkish authorities have released Veysi Aktas, a longtime cellmate of Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned founder of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), amid renewed efforts to revive peace talks between Ankara and the group. Although Aktas was due for release on April 28, 2024, the Imrali Prison Directorate and its Supervisory Board delayed his discharge for a year under discretionary legal provisions. He was freed on Friday after spending more than three decades in prison, including the last ten years with Ocalan in the high-security Imrali Island facility. His release coincided with a visit by a delegation from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) to Imrali, part of ongoing mediation efforts in what is being described as a new phase in the peace process. The Turkish-Kurdish dialogue was quietly restarted in late 2024 after multiple failed attempts in past decades. Turkish media described Aktas' release as a goodwill gesture aimed at advancing negotiations to end the PKK's long-running armed campaign. During this current initiative, Aktas appeared twice in public: first on February delivering a message on Ocalan's behalf, and again on July 9 in newly released video footage featuring the PKK leader. A native of Diyarbakır, Aktas was arrested in 1994 on charges of attempting to secede part of Turkiye's territory and sentenced to life imprisonment.
