Turkey's Kurdish lawmakers meet Massoud Barzani in Kurdistan

Turkeys Kurdish lawmakers meet Massoud Barzani in Iraqi Kurdistan — Tribal leader Massoud Barzani (right) with Turkey’s Kurdish DEM party delegation in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, February 16, 2024. Photo: Barzani’s Press Office

ERBIL,— A group of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish lawmakers delivered a message from Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned Kurdish leader and the founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), to Massoud Barzani, a tribal leader the head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on Sunday, according to a statement from Barzani’s office.

The meeting comes as Ocalan is expected to make a key decision regarding the future of the peace process with Turkey, according to sources familiar with the talks.

The delegation, which belongs to Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (DEM), recently visited Ocalan twice in the past six weeks.

The group then engaged in discussions with key political factions in Turkey’s parliament about the ongoing peace efforts.

While no official timeline has been set, Kurdish political figures expect Ocalan’s statement to come soon, possibly before the Kurdish New Year, known as Newroz, in March.

Barzani’s office confirmed that the Turkish delegation, which included two DEM lawmakers who met with Ocalan, traveled to Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, to deliver the message.

The delegation visited Barzani at his palace near Erbil and shared their observations on the political climate and the state of the peace process in Turkey, according to the statement.

Barzani responded by affirming his full support for the peace process. “The peace process is the only right way to reach a solution,” he said, urging all parties to focus on advancing dialogue.

Barzani’s commitment to the peace process underscores his influence in Kurdish affairs, especially given his leadership of the KDP, which is a dominant political force in the Kurdish region.

The Barzani clan strongly opposes the PKK and maintains strong political and economic ties with the Turkish government, particularly in the areas of energy and trade. Turkey is also a crucial partner for the Barzani’s KDP in maintaining stability in the region.

The meeting between the delegation and Barzani lasted nearly two hours. During the session, Barzani shared his thoughts and proposals on the peace process, according to a statement from the DEM party.

Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani (2nd right) welcomes Turkey’s Kurdish DEM party delegation in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, February 17, 2024. Photo: Screengrab/video/Rudaw

The delegation’s visit is part of a three-day trip, during which they also plan to meet with several other key Kurdish leaders, including Massoud’s nephew Kurdistan region president, Nechirvan Barzani, as well as Qubad Talabani, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s deputy prime minister, and Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

The PKK has been engaged in an armed struggle against the Turkish state since 1984. The group holds positions in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, where Turkey also maintains dozens of military bases in the Barzani-controlled areas to target PKK forces operating in the area.

Efforts to reach a peace agreement between the Turkish government and the PKK have stalled in recent years.

However, a surprising shift occurred in October when Turkey’s nationalist MHP party extended an olive branch to Ocalan. The MHP called on the PKK leader to renounce violence in exchange for a potential early release from the island prison where he has been held in solitary confinement since 1999.

The proposal, backed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has reignited hopes for an end to a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives on both sides.

The PKK’s armed insurgency, which began in 1984, was initially driven by demands for greater autonomy and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkish Kurdistan (Bakur). Kurdish people make up more than 23 million of Turkey’s 84 million population.

The PKK is seen by many as a symbol of Kurdish resistance. Ocalan, who founded the PKK in 1974, holds significant symbolic value for Kurdish communities not only in Turkey but also across the world.

While the PKK has consistently targeted Turkish military and government installations, the group has made efforts to avoid civilian casualties, a strategy that has influenced global views on its designation as a “terrorist” organization.

According to analysts, Ocalan remains a central figure for Kurdish political aspirations and the broader Kurdish struggle for cultural and political rights. As peace talks with Turkey continue to evolve, the role of Ocalan and his potential influence over the process will likely remain a key factor in shaping the future of Kurdish-Turkish relations.

In the coming weeks, Kurdish leaders and lawmakers will closely monitor the developments surrounding Ocalan’s potential statement, which could determine the next steps in the long-running peace process between the Turkish government and the Kurdish political movement.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)