Turkish Kurds have welcomed the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) call for peace, citing exhaustion with decades-old conflict. The outlawed group declared an immediate ceasefire on Saturday, heeding jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan’s disarmament call.
President Tayyip Erdogan’s government and its nationalist ally, as well as pro-Kurdish parties, have voiced support for the peace call. However, Ankara has warned it will resume military operations against the militant group if promises are not kept.
Resident Zihni Capin said people were “exhausted” by the conflict, hoping for a process that leads to prosperity, peace, and happiness. Co-chair of DEM party Tuncer Bakirhan said political and legal adjustments were now “inevitable,” adding Turkey’s parliament had a “historic role” in this process.
The ceasefire could have wide-ranging implications for the region if it succeeds in ending the conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state. It may also give Erdogan a domestic boost, bringing peace and development to southeast Turkey, where thousands have been killed and the economy severely damaged.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkeys-kurds-say-pkk-militants-heeding-jailed-leaders-peace-call-is-right-move-2025-03-02