Ankara-PKK peace process: New developments expected

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - New positive developments are anticipated in the ongoing peace talks between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), following recent meetings between mediators and the negotiating parties.

The PKK, which dissolved itself and led a symbolic event laying down arms earlier this year following a call from jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan, took what it called another “historic” step by starting the withdrawal of all remaining fighters from Turkey late last month. 

Unlike the Kurdish group’s dissolution and disarmament decisions, the latest move was warmly welcomed by Turkish officials. Omer Celik, spokesperson for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), was quick to welcome the decision. Other officials and politicians followed suit. 

The PKK, which has rebranded itself as the Kurdistan Freedom Movement following its decision to dissolve, said the latest initiative was a gesture of goodwill aimed at ensuring the process proceeds smoothly.

Four days after the withdrawal decision, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received main mediators in peace talks, who are senior members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party). 

The mediators said they were satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, reporting “mutual understanding and consensus on taking steps to ensure that the process progresses more rapidly and healthily.” The Turkish presidency did reveal the content of the meeting. 

Erdogan said during an event in Istanbul on Saturday that his third meeting with the mediators was very good. 

“We held an extremely constructive, productive, and hopeful meeting with them regarding the future. God willing, we will see the reflections of this meeting in the coming days,” he said. 

Mehmet Ucum, a senior legal advisor of Erdogan, said on Sunday that Erdogan’s latest remark shows a new phase. 

“It is clear that we have now entered a phase where new developments are expected,” he said on X, adding that the parliamentary commission formed to provide a legal framework to the peace process is expected to meet with Ocalan before completing its series of meetings with relevant parties. 

Ucum noted that the steps taken by the PKK are bringing the process close to completion. 

Tulay Hatimogullari, co-chair of DEM Party, said on Saturday that PKK has taken “extremely historic steps to protect the peace and security of Turkey’s peoples.”

She renewed her party’s call on the parliamentary commission to meet with Ocalan.

“The commission must urgently go to Imrali [prison] and meet with Mr. Ocalan. As Mr. Ocalan has stated, democratic integration laws, freedom laws, and the special law that will pave the way for disarmament must be enacted urgently. There is no time to waste. Everyone should know, everyone should see that the time we lose is filled by provocateurs,” she said at a speech in Hakkari (Colemerg).