Focus on the BIG picture.
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Outside the box.
Dissolution of PKK Marks Potential Milestone for Kurdish-Turkish Relations
European leaders urge Turkey to embrace dialogue following the disbandment of the Kurdistan Workers' Party.
Brussels – The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has announced its dissolution after over four decades of armed conflict with the Turkish state, a period that has resulted in more than 40,000 casualties.
This historic development has prompted calls from the European Commission and Kurdish community leaders for Turkey to engage in an inclusive dialogue aimed at addressing the political and social grievances of the Kurdish minority, which constitutes approximately 20 percent of Turkey’s population.
Turkey's response to the dissolution, however, has been cautious.
A government statement emphasized that the disbandment of the PKK would not lead to any concessions on autonomy or decentralization, nor would it support federal models seen to undermine the country’s unitary governance.
Negotiations leading up to the PKK’s decision took more than eight months and involved mediation by the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM).
The pivotal moment came on February 27 when Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, called for an end to armed conflict.
Following this appeal, the PKK declared a ceasefire with Turkey until the official announcement on May 12 stating that the organization would dismantle its structure and cease armed resistance.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan referred to Öcalan’s call as a historic opportunity for reconciliation between Turks and Kurds.
He stated, "Today we have crossed another critical threshold.
The terrorist group has decided to give up its weapons and dissolve.
We consider this decision important for maintaining peace and brotherhood." Erdoğan assured that intelligence efforts would oversee the subsequent processes to ensure compliance and prevent any escalations.
The PKK’s dissolution is set to occur in three phases, supported by the United Nations.
The initial phase involves a strategic plan for disarmament, beginning with PKK units located in northern Iraq, specifically in the Duhok, Erbil, and Seyid Sadik regions.
This plan will culminate in the dismantling of training camps, weapon caches, and other tactical infrastructures, with the Turkish military assuming a central role in this dismantling, supervised by international observers.
Tuncer Bakirhan, president of the DEM party, described the outcome of the PKK Congress as promising news for Turkey, expressing hopes for a future oriented towards peace and democracy.
He asserted that the dismantling of the PKK eliminates barriers to establishing a more democratic Turkey.
The DEM has faced legal challenges in the past, with some of its leaders accused of affiliation with the PKK, and the party has been scrutinized by the government in light of ongoing allegations concerning links to terrorism.
Reactions to the dissolution have come from various regional actors.
Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, along with the foreign ministers of Jordan and Syria, welcomed the news as a potentially transformative event.
Anouar El Anouni, a spokesperson for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Foreign Affairs, advocated for a robust peace process and encouraged all involved parties to capitalize on this moment by initiating a political solution to the ongoing Kurdish issue.
This historic development has prompted calls from the European Commission and Kurdish community leaders for Turkey to engage in an inclusive dialogue aimed at addressing the political and social grievances of the Kurdish minority, which constitutes approximately 20 percent of Turkey’s population.
Turkey's response to the dissolution, however, has been cautious.
A government statement emphasized that the disbandment of the PKK would not lead to any concessions on autonomy or decentralization, nor would it support federal models seen to undermine the country’s unitary governance.
Negotiations leading up to the PKK’s decision took more than eight months and involved mediation by the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM).
The pivotal moment came on February 27 when Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, called for an end to armed conflict.
Following this appeal, the PKK declared a ceasefire with Turkey until the official announcement on May 12 stating that the organization would dismantle its structure and cease armed resistance.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan referred to Öcalan’s call as a historic opportunity for reconciliation between Turks and Kurds.
He stated, "Today we have crossed another critical threshold.
The terrorist group has decided to give up its weapons and dissolve.
We consider this decision important for maintaining peace and brotherhood." Erdoğan assured that intelligence efforts would oversee the subsequent processes to ensure compliance and prevent any escalations.
The PKK’s dissolution is set to occur in three phases, supported by the United Nations.
The initial phase involves a strategic plan for disarmament, beginning with PKK units located in northern Iraq, specifically in the Duhok, Erbil, and Seyid Sadik regions.
This plan will culminate in the dismantling of training camps, weapon caches, and other tactical infrastructures, with the Turkish military assuming a central role in this dismantling, supervised by international observers.
Tuncer Bakirhan, president of the DEM party, described the outcome of the PKK Congress as promising news for Turkey, expressing hopes for a future oriented towards peace and democracy.
He asserted that the dismantling of the PKK eliminates barriers to establishing a more democratic Turkey.
The DEM has faced legal challenges in the past, with some of its leaders accused of affiliation with the PKK, and the party has been scrutinized by the government in light of ongoing allegations concerning links to terrorism.
Reactions to the dissolution have come from various regional actors.
Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, along with the foreign ministers of Jordan and Syria, welcomed the news as a potentially transformative event.
Anouar El Anouni, a spokesperson for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Foreign Affairs, advocated for a robust peace process and encouraged all involved parties to capitalize on this moment by initiating a political solution to the ongoing Kurdish issue.
