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Kurdistan Workers' Party Announces Withdrawal of All Its Elements from Turkey
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced today, Sunday, a historic step involving the withdrawal of all its elements from Turkish territories to northern Iraq, due to precautionary measures and to avoid potential escalation and clashes. The party, in its statement published by the pro-PKK Furat News agency, explained that this move is made in anticipation of undesirable events and called on Turkish authorities to take the necessary legal measures to ensure the peaceful process of peace negotiations.
In a related context, the party urged the Turkish government to proceed with implementing legal procedures that facilitate a smooth transition to political work. It emphasized the need to adopt the PKK’s amnesty law as a foundation and to pass laws guaranteeing freedoms that enable democratic integration. During a ceremony in northern Iraq, the party stated: "Laws related to freedoms must be enacted, providing opportunities for democratic political participation."
This step by the party responds to a call from its leader, Abdullah Öcalan, who called for disarmament and advancing political work within a legal framework. This aligns with the decisions of the party’s 12th Congress, announced last May.
The PKK previously announced its intention to end the ongoing armed conflict with Ankara, which has lasted for decades, as part of efforts to achieve peace and establish a framework for peaceful political dialogue. This announcement is seen as a likely significant step toward shaping the new phase for the party and is a response to current political and security conditions.
