ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Officials and political leaders in the Kurdistan Region on Thursday welcomed the long-anticipated letter from the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, who urged the group to disarm and disband. The move is being hailed as a significant step toward lasting peace in Turkey and a democratic resolution to the Kurdish issue. In his letter, Ocalan said that the PKK must convene and make a decision, adding that “all [PKK-affiliated] groups must lay down their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself.” He further said that "the need for a democratic society is inevitable. The PKK, the longest and most extensive insurgency in the history of the Republic, found social base and support, and was primarily inspired by the fact that the channels of democratic politics were closed.” In a statement he posted on X, the Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday said, “We warmly welcome Mr. Ocalan's message and his call for disarmament and dissolution of the PKK. We request that the PKK upholds and commits to this message and implements it.” He additionally hoped “this call will pave the way for achieving peace and peaceful resolution.” The Kurdistan Region President further stated, “This is the era of peaceful, civil, and democratic struggle, and better results and achievements will be realized through this path, not through weapons and violence.” He reiterated Erbil’s readiness to fully support the peace process and “play a helpful and cooperative role in whatever falls upon us to make the process successful.” For his part, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani welcomed Ocalan’s message, stressing that peace is the “only correct way” to resolve differences and emphasizing “steadfast” support for the peace process in Turkey. Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also expressed his support for “any attempt at a peaceful resolution of regional issues.” He highlighted that the Kurdistan Region “has always been a key factor for peace and stability in the region” and expressed his readiness to support and play a role in “advancing the peace process in Turkey.” Meanwhile, KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabni stated on Thursday that “it is our collective responsibility to embrace Ocalan’s message and ensure that no effort is spared in advancing the [PKK-Turkey peace] process." The deputy premier hailed the letter as an opportunity for a “peaceful and democratic resolution of the Kurdish issue in Turkey,” hoping that this process will help both “the Kurdish and Turkish [peoples] in laying the foundation for genuine coexistence." Qubad’s brother and leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Bafel Talabani, also lauded Ocalan's statement as a “responsible and necessary call at this stage to unite the Kurds and resolve issues through peaceful dialogue based on partnership and solidarity.” He urged “all parties to embrace this statement and take practical steps toward achieving comprehensive peace.” In a similar vein, the two major Kurdish Islamic parties - the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) and Kurdistan Justice Group (KJG) - also praised Ocalan’s message. Salahadin Bahaauddin, the secretary-general of KIU, described it as a message “filled with responsibility, foresight, and realism.” Extending congratulations on the initiation of this "new phase," Bahaauddin expressed hope that all relevant parties “would approach the process with national, ethical, and moral responsibility.” For his part, KJG leader Ali Bapir expressed hope that both the Turkish government and the PKK will adopt “genuine steps” in response to Ocalan’s call. He further urged both sides to "seize this opportunity, learn from past [experiences], and move forward with wisdom."
