Ocalan says 'ready' to back Turkey's peace efforts

ISTANBUL,— Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned Kurdish leader and the founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), is ready to endorse a new Turkish government initiative aimed at ending decades of conflict, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish party said on Sunday.

The announcement followed a rare visit to Ocalan by two lawmakers from the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DEM) on Saturday. This was the first visit by the party in nearly ten years to the PKK leader, who has been serving a life sentence on Imrali Island, south of Istanbul, since his capture in 1999.

According to DEM officials, the Turkish government approved the visit on Friday, marking a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to ease tensions between the government and the PKK, which is designated a “terrorist” organization by Turkey and many of its Western allies.

The visit took place two months after Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of Turkey’s nationalist MHP party, extended an unexpected olive branch to Ocalan, urging him to renounce violence and disband the PKK. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later backed Bahçeli’s proposal, calling it a “historic opportunity.”

Ocalan, in a statement issued by the DEM, expressed his willingness to contribute positively to the peace process. “I am confident in my ability and commitment to contribute positively to the new direction set by Mr. Bahçeli and Mr. Erdoğan,” he said. “I am prepared to take the necessary steps and lead the way forward.”

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) began its armed struggle in 1984 against the Turkish government, which has not officially recognized the Kurds’ constitutional rights. The PKK’s goal is to secure greater autonomy for Kurds in Turkis Kurdistan (Bakur), where they make up more than 22.5 million of the nation’s 84 million people. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 people, including both Turkish soldiers and Kurdish fighters.

A peace process between the government and the PKK collapsed in 2015, resulting in a resurgence of violence, particularly in the Kurdish-majority southeast of Turkey.

Ocalan’s comments also highlighted the broader regional context. With Islamist rebels gaining control in Syria, Turkey is increasingly focused on addressing the presence of Kurdish fighters in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), whom it sees as aligned with the PKK.

On Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Kurdish militants should not be allowed to find shelter in Syria.

According to DEM, Ocalan noted that external interference in the Kurdish issue would only complicate matters, and stressed that a solution to the conflict was urgently needed. “Strengthening the relationship between Turks and Kurds is both a historical responsibility and an urgent necessity for all communities,” he said.

As the region grapples with political instability, Ocalan emphasized that a peaceful and democratic future was possible for Turkey and the wider region. He ended by calling for peace, democracy, and unity in Turkey and the surrounding region.

A large portion of the Kurdish community in Turkey and abroad openly supports the PKK rebels and their jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan. Analysts say Ocalan holds deep symbolic importance for many Kurds, representing their fight for cultural rights and democracy. He is seen as a key figure in their struggle and has become a powerful symbol of Kurdish freedom.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)