The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has announced a ceasefire with Turkey, following a call from its imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan to disarm.
The statement, released by the pro-PKK Firat News Agency (ANF) on Saturday, marks a significant step toward ending the 40-year conflict with the Turkish government.
The PKK executive committee declared that they are declaring a ceasefire starting from that day to support Öcalan’s call for peace and a democratic society. “We fully support the call and commit to following and implementing it,” the committee stated, emphasizing that their forces would not engage in armed action unless provoked. On Thursday, Öcalan issued a historic plea from prison, urging the PKK to disarm, dissolve itself, and end its long-standing conflict with Turkey. The PKK expressed hopes that Turkey would release Öcalan, who has been in near-total isolation since 1999, to lead the disarmament process, while stressing the need for political and democratic conditions to ensure success. The statement did not provide a timeline for disbanding the group. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that Turkey would keep its military forces ready, promising to continue operations until every last terrorist is eliminated. Speaking at a Ramadan dinner in Istanbul, Erdoğan declared that Turkey would not hesitate to act if necessary.
Meanwhile, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz responded to the ceasefire by expressing hope that this new phase would lead to a terror-free Turkey, urging swift and successful action.
