Middle East
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani (left) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) meeting in Istanbul on November 1, 2024. Photo: Sudani's office
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday discussed the peace process between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) over the phone, hailing the talks as key to promoting regional stability.
Sudani “congratulated Mr. Erdogan on the peace agreement between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, stressing that the agreement will have a positive impact on the region, promoting stability, advancing development, and benefiting its people,” said a statement from Sudani’s office.
The PKK on Friday held a landmark ceremonial disarmament in Sulaimani province with 30 members and commanders - divided equally between men and women - burning their weapons before heading back to their hideouts. The decision to lay down arms was made following a call earlier this year by jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan for the PKK to pursue politics instead of armed conflict.
On Saturday, Erdogan said that the formation of a parliamentary commission will be a “first step” in peace talks between Turkey and the PKK, accusing previous governments of having oppressed Kurds instead of focusing on trying to end the PKK’s armed struggle.
He also admitted that Ankara had relied on “wrong policies” in dealing with the PKK.
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) is the main mediator of the talks between the Turkish state and the PKK.
Sudani and Erdogan also discussed bilateral ties during the phone call, as well as “the need to prevent further escalation and resolve issues within the framework of dialogue and international laws and treaties,” according to the statement.
The PKK, established in 1978, initially sought Kurdish independence before shifting its focus to securing political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. It is designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara and its Western allies.
Sudani “congratulated Mr. Erdogan on the peace agreement between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, stressing that the agreement will have a positive impact on the region, promoting stability, advancing development, and benefiting its people,” said a statement from Sudani’s office.
The PKK on Friday held a landmark ceremonial disarmament in Sulaimani province with 30 members and commanders - divided equally between men and women - burning their weapons before heading back to their hideouts. The decision to lay down arms was made following a call earlier this year by jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan for the PKK to pursue politics instead of armed conflict.
On Saturday, Erdogan said that the formation of a parliamentary commission will be a “first step” in peace talks between Turkey and the PKK, accusing previous governments of having oppressed Kurds instead of focusing on trying to end the PKK’s armed struggle.
He also admitted that Ankara had relied on “wrong policies” in dealing with the PKK.
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) is the main mediator of the talks between the Turkish state and the PKK.
Sudani and Erdogan also discussed bilateral ties during the phone call, as well as “the need to prevent further escalation and resolve issues within the framework of dialogue and international laws and treaties,” according to the statement.
The PKK, established in 1978, initially sought Kurdish independence before shifting its focus to securing political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. It is designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara and its Western allies.
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