ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey’s president on Friday urged the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to seize the “historic opportunity” to end the 40-year-old conflict, but warned that Ankara would proceed with “destroying terrorism” if the group does not lay down its arms.
“We are amid a new process that will bring us closer to our goal of a Turkey free of terror, and will put the final point on the 40-year issue,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a Newroz (New Year) event in Istanbul.
“The last step is the dissolution of the separatist organization and the surrender of its weapons” that jeopardize the peace and security of all Turkish citizens, including the Kurds, he added.
Without explicitly naming the PKK, Erdogan said that if the group disbands and disarms, Turkey will “have the chance to rid itself of a 40-year scourge with ease. Otherwise, we will look to finalize our strategy of destroying terrorism at its source.”
PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan issued a historic message in late February telling the group to convene a congress and “make the decision to integrate with the state and society; all groups should lay down their arms and the PKK should dissolve itself.”
The message was relayed through the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) that has been mediating peace efforts between Ankara and the PKK, including holding meetings with Ocalan.
Ocalan, who founded the PKK in 1978 and launched a war against the Turkish state six years later, has been jailed on Imrali Island since 1999.
The PKK leader’s message sparked hope for an end to the conflict that has taken 40,000 lives.
Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in late February reacted to Ocalan’s message, saying that "if the terrorist organization evaluates this call, lays down its arms, and disbands itself, Turkey will be freed from its shackles.”
Erdogan reiterated on Friday hopes that the PKK and its supporters “will not resort to irrational and unreasonable behavior, as they have done in the past, and waste this historic opportunity.” He added that the PKK’s adherence to Ocalan’s call will “relieve our entire region, especially Iraq and Syria, and will strengthen stability, along with our country.”
Following Ocalan’s message, the PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire but set their leader’s release from prison as a precondition to laying down arms and disbanding. The group said it cannot make such decisions without the physical attendance of their leader at the congress he urged for.
A senior PKK commander said that Ocalan should be involved in all stages of such a meeting, including possibly participating remotely, saying that his involvement must go beyond a single message or symbolic appearance.
“Some of our comrades who are not in the country, who are abroad or in prison, say in their statements that the Leader could send messages through technical means. However, this is not something that can be resolved with a single message,” Murat Karayilan said in an interview with PKK-affiliated Sterk TV that aired on Monday.
“If a congress is held, Leader Apo [Ocalan] should be informed about all stages and decisions made and should be able to respond,” Karayilan added.
The PKK initially demanded the establishment of an independent Kurdistan but now calls for autonomy. The group is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies.
