ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Abdullah Ocalan, jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) wants to meet with prominent Kurdish leaders in the Kurdistan Region and northeast Syria (Rojava), including President Nechirvan Barzani and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi, said the main pro-Kurdish party in Turkey on Wednesday.
“It is highly likely that Ocalan will meet with representatives of different political parties in the coming days," Aysegul Dogan, spokesperson for the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), told reporters on Wednesday.
“We believe it would be beneficial for him to also meet with Mr. Masoud Barzani, Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, Mr. Mazloum Abdi, Mr. Qubad Talabani and Bafel Talabani," added Dogan, stating that these meetings are also Ocalan's desire and would provide an important foundation for broad political consultations.
Turkey is in the midst of a renewed effort for peace between the state and the PKK. Ocalan in late February called on the PKK to convene a congress to decide on dissolving itself and laying down arms, emphasizing the need to transition from decades of armed struggle to a political path.
The PKK responded to his call and held a congress in early May, announcing its dissolution and an end to its four-decade armed struggle to pursue a political and democratic path.
Its decision to dissolve and end its armed struggle was welcomed by Kurdish leaders from the Kurdistan Region and Syria, who commended it as the beginning of a new chapter in the region.
On Friday, President Barzani received a phone call from DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakirhan, who urged the Kurdistan Region’s president to continue engaging in the peace process in Turkey to help ensure its success.
Despite progress on peace talks between the PKK and Ankara, which are believed to have unofficially started last year, both sides blame each other for the slow progress.
Founded in 1978, the PKK initially sought an independent Kurdish state but later shifted its focus toward achieving broader political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey.
The group has been labeled as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its allies.
Updated at 4:45 pm
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